blonde poker forum

Hello and welcome from myself and Jen to the exciting initiation of this year's EPT season here in Barcelona.

I doubt there is a finer city to host the opening event - Barcelona is a stunning locale, from its beautiful coastal views to its mouth watering range of foods to its feisty yet friendly inhabitants. I love it here as you may be able to tell and we are bound to be in for a hell of an EPT.

Pokerstars kicked off proceedings last night in their usual glitzy fashion with an impressive opening party from Club Opium Mar. Small appetizing plates of snacks were handed round whilst an award ceremony hosted by none other than Daniel Negreanu took place.

The champagne, wine and vodka red bull flowed whilst the players had a chance to relax, let their hair down and mingle with each other before picking up arms and doing battle at the felt over the next five days.

Some of the big star celebs seen amongst the throng were the lovely Isabelle Mercier, diminutive recent WSOP bracelet winner Dario Minieri, Scotty Nguyen, the controversial but accomplished winner of the 2008 50k WSOP HORSE bracelet, the laid back and immensely tall consistent EPT performer Danny Ryan and perennial Dana favourite Trond Eidsvig, all of whom looked to be having a great time.

If there's any lull in the likely frenetic action, we'll fill you in on the awards that were handed out but for now we wait with bated breath for the action to kick off where as usual we will bring you a full and complete account of all the action.

As per usual, feel free to throw requests for chip counts or other information at us and we'll do our utmost to bring the EPT to your doorstep.

Good luck to all the players. It should be a cracker!

Danny Ryan FTW

Initial Impression Scores:

Weather compared to the UK: 10/10
Popularity of Pokerstars EPT tournament, beautiful wide-eyed optimism that THIS season YOU are going to win:  10/10
Starting on time: 3/10
Organisation of human sea of gamblers thronging the cash game desk already:  1/10
Quality of foods (and party):  9/10
Tables with at least one 18-year-old American:  6/10
Level of wishing I were visiting the Gaudi garden in the sunshine instead of holed up in the baccarat room press haven: 9/10

You win the get-in-there-first prize (a dedicated following of the consistent Mr. Ryan), and we salute you for tipping him before the first start day even settles into some semblance of starting.  Should he actually win, that makes blonde's record of quickest accurate tip, and we will photoshop you in your honour.

The hardships of it.  You lot have the life, but no need to rub it in! 

Pouring rain and cold here.  Cheers.

Cards in the air yet?

And we're off!

An early perusal of the card room revealed a number of names and faces lurking in the sea of EPT hopefuls.

Dutch star Noah Boeken is here, although he appears to have spurned his normal eye-wateringly luminescent hoody for something altogether more subdued today. I hope the pokerstars sponsored Dutchman is not on the slippery slope to wearing grey cardigans and flannel trousers!

Another Dutchman spotted was Rolf Slotboom, sporting his trademarked mirrored shades. I hope Rolf runs deep, if only so we can see another of the magnificently intricate chip constructions he is so adept at making.

There is a reasonable English contingent in attendance today as well. One of the most recognisable faces is that of Mickey Wernick, his bearded visage poking out from a blanket of spiky haired scandies and wearing a broad grin that seems to signal he is feeling confident of doing well.

One interesting face-off sees the highly respected young internet and now live sensation Annette Obrestad pitted against the magnate of all things honey-related Albert Sapiano. Annette no doubt spent much of the summer jealously watching the world series pass her by, being too young to play poker in the states.

She must have been itching to get stuck in to a big tournament and with the advent of the EPT season, she can do just that! However, nothing will have prepared her for some of the incredible plays she will witness coming from Albert today.

Can she cope with his relentless brand of calling-any-preflop-raise-with-any-cards poker?

We'll just have to wait and see...

Well, this is as close to natural light as we're getting - Pokerstars have, as usual, done a bang up job branding the poker room and the larger-than-life faces of Greg Raymer, Marcel Luske and the others (now too many to list), and the Emergency Fire Doors weren't excepted... You can just see the tempting gleam of light from the glorious summer taking place at the marina - and I snapped it as best I could through the cracks.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20930&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20933&g2_serialNumber=1)

Or the fastest ever bok.

I have to admit having arrived into a fabulous bottleneck as IDs are repeatedly checked, player and press passes swiped, and they filter down the stairs into the casino - so I was expecting every square inch of baize to be instantly filled by players.  However, the playing area, divided into two, isn't seething too much, and I didn't step on anyone's toes/knock their side tables over/get into a Twister-style contest to snap them with other press.  While one half of the room is already clicking with riffling chips, the other sort of has yet to get going, and the soothing voice of TD Thomas Kremser oozes from the mic every now and then calling a new keen hopeful to their place at one of the tables. 

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20935&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20937&g2_serialNumber=1)

Another big name spotted at the felt is that of David "Chino" Rheem, one of the November Nine who are destined to return to the Rio Casino in Vegas in November to battle it out on the WSOP Main Event final table.

As I haven't spotted any interesting hands of note just yet, I will continue the sartorial focus of my previous posts by telling you he is wearing a sporty leather jacket emblazoned with dollar symbols. Apt, given that he is guaranteed to be a dollar millionaire in less than 2 months time...

Reportedly both Greg Raymer (who Jen has snapped) and Annette Obrestad have had flying starts, winning reasonably sized pots to boost them to 14k and 13k respectively...

Not True But Could Have, Possibly Should Have Been Story of the Day (so far):

Greg Raymer refused Entry to Tournament for not wearing Pants

A story was circulating, in all seriousness, through the press room, that the dress codes of the Casino had put paid to none other than the Fossilman's dreams of EPT glory.  While they've definitely loosened up their rules (trainers and hoodies abound, thank goodness), Noah Boeken was earlier refused entry because of his ripped jeans and shorts are definitely frowned upon.  So the trademark beige shorts, socks'n'sandals combo of Raymer was apparently, nearly going to miss out on Day 1a.  Someone somewhere relented, and here he is, chatting cheerily with his table already.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20939&g2_serialNumber=1)

Incidentally, Danny Ryan is one of his current conversational sparring partners, pictured here from the side in case you didn't recognise his hair in the top photo. 

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20943&g2_serialNumber=1)

I got robbed just the other side of those doors...

I got robbed on this side of the doors.

Blatant "I once walked out of a casino with money still on me" brag post imo...

I have been on the hunt for a list of players (at least for today only) but it's not as easy as it sounds - they are still accepting people into today's flight and presumably even though tomorrow is the more popular start day the same rule will apply.  Finding names and seats will be possible on Day 2 in a way that today we can only dream of.  Mad Harper, struggling through the virtual paperwork, has directed me to this list though - which is better than nothing.  Probably.

Johannes Steindl   Austria   Sponsored   1a
Stefan Jedlicka   Austria   PS qualifier   1a
Thomas Dolezal   Austria   PS qualifier   1a
Pierre Neuville   Belgium   PS qualifier   1a
Yves Kupfermunz   Belgium   PS qualifier   1a
Christian Moeschke Kruel   Brazil   PS qualifier   1a
Alex Gomes   Brazil   Team PokerStars Pro   1a
Andre Akkari   Brazil   Team PokerStars Pro   1a
Glen Chorny   Canada   PS player   1a
Matt Kay   Canada   PS player   1b
Samuel Chartier   Canada   PS qualifier   1a
Maxwell Greenwood   Canada   PS qualifier   1a
Jonathan Dwek   Canada   PS qualifier   1a
Sorel Mizzi   Canada   PS qualifier   1b
Isabelle Mercier   Canada   Team PokerStars Pro   1b
Steven Thompson   Costa Rica   PS player   1b
Phidias Georgiou   Cyprus   PS qualifier   1b
Mark Dalimore   Czech Republic   PS qualifier   1a
Martin Wendt   Denmark   PS player   1a
Jens Kläning   Denmark   PS qualifier   1a
Christian Grundtvig   Denmark   PS qualifier   1a
Søren Kongsgaard   Denmark   PS qualifier   1b
Jonas Klausen   Denmark   PS qualifier   1b
Koivisto Henri Juho Kristian   Finland   PS qualifier   1a
Tuomas Karppinen   Finland   PS qualifier   1b
Miks Puro   Finland   Sponsored   1b
Nicolas Dieu    France   PS qualifier   1a
Cescut Guillaume   France   PS qualifier   1b
Alain Roy   France   PS qualifier   1b
Damien Vidal   France   PS qualifier   1b
Nicolas Martin   France   PS qualifier   1b
Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier   France   Team PokerStars Pro   1b
George Danzer   Germany   Sponsored   1a
Benny Spindler   Germany   PS player   1a
Johannes Strassmann   Germany   Sponsored   1a
Ben Thavisin   Germany   PS player   1b
Frank Stumpf   Germany   PS player   1b
Jan Heitmann   Germany   Sponsored   1b
Friedrich-Carl Alexander
Franz   Germany   Poker Camp winner   1b
Peter Bueermann   Germany   PS qualifier   1a
Oleg Epp   Germany   PS qualifier   1a
Jochen Schmidt   Germany   PS qualifier   1a
Malte Strothmann   Germany   PS qualifier   1a
Jokic Miroslav   Germany   PS qualifier   1b
Tobias Reinkemeier   Germany   PS qualifier   1b
Stephan Klam   Germany   PS qualifier   1b
Christian Fockenberg   Germany   PS qualifier   1b
Sebastian Ruthenberg   Germany   Sponsored   1b
Katja Thater   Germany   Team PokerStars Pro   1a
Stavros Kalfas   Greece   PS qualifier   1a
Antoon Peter Jozef Kleynen   Holland   PS player   1a
Luis Miguel Magan Tier   Holland   PS player   1a
Joep Van Den Bijgaart   Holland   PS player   1a
Ruben Visser   Holland   PS player   1a
Gijsbertus Reinier Maria Spijkers   Holland   PS player   1a
Joris Jaspers   Holland   PS player   1a
Johan Van Til   Holland   PS qualifier   1a
Evertjan Dondergoor   Holland   PS qualifier   1a
Johannes Wijlaars   Holland   PS qualifier   1a
Steven Weusten   Holland   PS qualifier   1b
Stuart Taylor   Holland   PS qualifier   1b
Eduard Toby Newton   Holland   PS qualifier   1b
Thierry Van Den Berg   Holland   PS qualifier   1b
Pieter De Korver   Holland   Sponsored   1a
Noah Boeken   Holland   Team PokerStars Pro   1a
Adam Markovits   Hungary   PS qualifier   1a
Denes Kalo   Hungary   PS qualifier   1a
Rajos Andras   Hungary   PS qualifier   1b
Halldor Mar Sverrisson   Iceland   PS qualifier   1a
Robert Willis   Ireland   PS qualifier   1a
Brendan Ruane   Ireland   PS qualifier   1a
Fintan Gavin   Ireland   PS qualifier   1b
Ohad Simhon   Israel   PS player   1a
Mario Adinolfi   Italy   PS player   1a
Luigi Pignataro   Italy   PS player   1a
Domenico Iannone   Italy   PS player   1b
Rizzi Luigi   Italy   PS qualifier   1a
Luca Pulzoni   Italy   PS qualifier   1a
Guzzardi Carlo Maurizio   Italy   PS qualifier   1a
Torri Andrea   Italy   PS qualifier   1b
Minasi Alessandro   Italy   PS qualifier   1b
Roberto Pompei   Italy   PS qualifier   1b
Amendola Alfonso   Italy   PS qualifier   1b
Dario Minieri   Italy   Team PokerStars Pro   1b
Luca Pagano   Italy   Team PokerStars Pro   1b
Gilbert Abela   Lebanon   PS qualifier   1a
Dominykas Karmazinas   Lithuania   PS qualifier   1b
Erlend Melsom   Norway   PS qualifier   1a
Andreas Hagen   Norway   PS qualifier   1a
Christian Fredrik Bonde   Norway   PS qualifier   1b
Stefan Aas Hansen   Norway   PS qualifier   1b
Miroslaw Klys   Poland   PS qualifier   1a
Sergio Bessa   Portugal   PS qualifier   1b
Pedro Poças   Portugal   PS qualifier   1b
Tardea Cristian   Romania   PS qualifier   1b
Zelenov Zhenya Vladimirovich   Russia   PS qualifier   1a
Gluschkov Ivan   Russia   PS qualifier   1b
Alexander Kravchenko   Russia   Team PokerStars Pro   1a
Raymond Rahme   South Africa   Team PokerStars Pro   1b
Manuel Jimenez Cecilia   Spain   PS player   1b
Juan Manuel Pastor   Spain   Sponsored   1b
Alvaro Ballesteros Blanco   Spain   PS player   1b
Sergio Bruguera   Spain   Sponsored   1b
Carlos Enrique Villa   Spain   PS qualifier   1a
David Marquez Macias   Spain   PS qualifier   1b
Weider Jose Gutierrez Vanegas   Spain   PS qualifier   1b
Björn Enberg   Sweden   PS player   1a
Danilo Kricak   Sweden   PS player   1a
Christofer Williamsson   Sweden   PS player   1a
Daniel Björkman   Sweden   PS player   1a
Abjar Özmen   Sweden   PS player   1a
Mats Sundin   Sweden   Sponsored   1b
Nichlas Mattsson Saarisilta   Sweden   PS qualifier   1a
Emil Holmsten   Sweden   PS qualifier   1a
Daniel Andersson   Sweden   PS qualifier   1a
Marko Vainio   Sweden   PS qualifier   1a
Christoffer Sonesson   Sweden   PS qualifier   1b
Andreas Petersson   Sweden   PS qualifier   1b
Fredrik Haugen   Sweden   PS qualifier   1b
Jakob Carlsson   Sweden   PS qualifier   1b
Jens Lundgren   Sweden   PS qualifier   1b
William Thorson   Sweden   Team PokerStars Pro   1b
Julien Sallin   Switzerland   PS qualifier   1a
Serge Didisheim   Switzerland   PS qualifier   1b
Daniel Berni Torras   UK   PS player   1a
Rob Akery   UK   PS player   1a
James Keys   UK   PS player   1a
Piotr Paruszewski   UK   PS qualifier   1a
Vijay Singh   UK   PS qualifier   1a
Nicholas Rutter   UK   PS qualifier   1a
Marcel Rhodes   UK   PS qualifier   1a
Adam York   UK   PS qualifier   1a
Steve Jelinek   UK   PS qualifier   1a
Laurence Houghton   UK   PS qualifier   1b
Stephen Chidwick   UK   PS qualifier   1b
Victoria Coren   UK   Team PokerStars Pro   1a
Christian Harder   USA   PS player   1a
Jason Mercier   USA   PS player   1a
Dustin Mele   USA   PS Passport winner   1a
Doug Polk   USA   PS player   1a
Daniel S Smith   USA   PS player   1a
Isaac Haxton   USA   PS player   1a
Shaun Deeb   USA   PS player   1a
Adam Junglen   USA   PS player   1b
David "Chino" Rheem   USA   Sponsored   1b
Ben Stark   USA   PS qualifier   1a
Faraz Jaka   USA   PS qualifier   1a
Richard Furay   USA   PS qualifier   1a
Justin Hamlyn   USA   PS qualifier   1a
David Atrubin   USA   PS qualifier   1a
Jerry Wong   USA   PS qualifier   1a
Matt Russell   USA   PS qualifier   1a
Kevin Macphee   USA   PS qualifier   1a
Danny Ryan   USA   PS qualifier   1a
Anthony Spinella   USA   PS qualifier   1a
Robert Hudson   USA   PS qualifier   1a
Joseph Bolnick   USA   PS qualifier   1a
Tim Bogue   USA   PS qualifier   1a
Reuben Peters   USA   PS qualifier   1a
Jon Van Fleet   USA   PS qualifier   1b
Paul Christian   USA   PS qualifier   1b
Mark Randal Flowers   USA   PS qualifier   1b
Hafiz Khan   USA   PS qualifier   1b
Greg Raymer   USA   Team PokerStars Pro   1a
Daniel Negreanu   USA   Team PokerStars Pro   1b
Chad Brown   USA   Team PokerStars Pro   1a
Vanessa Rousso   USA   Team PokerStars Pro   1a
Gavin Griffin   USA   Team PokerStars Pro   1b

I now regret my gentle mocking of Albert Sapiano.

He has made me eat my words as though they were slices of hot toast slathered with melted butter and his very own honey as he has just virtually stacked another player at his table to double through and possibly take the chip lead at this stage.

The preflop action was unknown but the chips found their way into the middle on an all heart flop with Albert holding Kh 6h for the second nuts and his opponent showing down bullets with the live but behind Ahrt nut flush draw...

The dealer decided that more than enough hearts had appeared and dealt out a couple of blanks to send Albert into paroxysms of joy whilst his bemused opponent looked at the 75 chips that were the sole remnants of his stack wistfully thinking of what could have been...

The eagle-eyed among you may have noticed that all of those names are either backed by or qualified on Pokerstars.  They do represent a large chunk of the field here, but there are others dotted here and there, like:

Barney Boatman, emphasising something I can't remember so that my flashless camera makes him look like he's thumping the table (he's not) - not that two to his left Norwegian Sverre (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=752) Sundbo (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=752) looks particularly bothered.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20945&g2_serialNumber=1)

Placid Bo (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1892) Sehlstedt (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1892) gets sat next to maverick Frenchman Ludovic (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1636) Lacay (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1636) - creating a definite potential Corner of Interest.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20949&g2_serialNumber=1)

And I have no idea what Stephen (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=407) Pearce (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=407) is saying to his American neighbour to cause this comedy double-take type expression, but guarantee if Chad wants conversation, or a monologue, or just to listen to two veteran talkers, he'll be just fine - just out of shot sits German Michael (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1099) Keiner (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1099).

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20947&g2_serialNumber=1)

A quick account of some of the players' fortunes thusfar:-

Rolf Slotboom - You will have noticed I sent him my best wishes and  hoped for a deep run for the EPT. Yes, you guessed it - he's OUT.

Catbok count 1.

Vanessa Rousso - great start - up to 20k at this stage although details are sketchy as to how this happened. More news as we get it but it looks like the glamourous lady may be our current chip leader...

Wily, wiry midlands veteran Mickey Wernick and his magnificently bushy bristles have had a good start, adding 50% to his stack within three levels as he has run his stack up to an impressive 15k+. Go Mickey!

Hello everybody

I'm happy to read that you're in Barcelona. Good luck to the people you like (I've seen some Hendon Mob people on photos)

If you have some time, could you please try to know how is Elky ?

Nice to see you jpean! Welcome to Barcelona with us.

Elky is well and in fine fettle, having just appeared in the press room to chin wag with the french media.

Current chip count 10,000.

 As I was taking the above photo, Pearce was bringing up some painful memories for Keiner, perhaps prompting tilt with his query about a particularly nasty outdraw with Queens.  Keiner responded with every appearance of relish, however, launching into an awesomely animated recital of said anecdote, and more, with physical theatre type illustrations, entertaining his neighbour: 

(N.B. Actual Content of Story May Vary From Truth)

So I reraised preflop - he called.  There's now quite a lot in the pot...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20951&g2_serialNumber=1)

And he checks....

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20953&g2_serialNumber=1)

So I shove...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20955&g2_serialNumber=1)

And he hits a two-outer to take me out.  So I grab him by the collar and I shake and shake him until ejected by security.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20957&g2_serialNumber=1)

Trond Eidsvig FTW. Photos please.

Also if possible, photos of the press room beagle working for the enemy. Muchas gracias, in the local parlance.

Seeing as they are just on their first break (after which I will be counting the chips of the rich and famous, or obscure and dwindling, or famous and dwindling, or rich and obscure (that covers all bases)) here's the second photo I got of the Swedish/French corner.  "You've photoshopped in Marcel's head," someone complained.  No, no that's really him a poster of amusing proportions which make it look like he's been grown and wedged in seat three, completing the Serious-Expression Tryptich.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20959&g2_serialNumber=1)

Some shots of the early action.

Here we have Noah Boeken. No garish hoody today but a tie-dyed yellow print t shirt suggests  the young dutchman is still young, hip and happening...for now.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20963&g2_serialNumber=1)

And voila Vanessa Rousso, looking good both physically and in terms of her chip count with over 20,000...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20965&g2_serialNumber=1)

Isn't Marcel (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=642) Luske (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=642) a big fella

A shot of have early EPT pace-setter and legend of the honey industry, Albert Sapiano.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20971&g2_serialNumber=1)

And welcome to son of megalomaniac tyrant Dr Evil, Mini Me, aiming to win over ONE MILLION DOLLARS in order to fund his father's evil schemes.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20967&g2_serialNumber=1)

Unimpressed at the total lack of Eidsvig tbh. Work harder.  ;slavedriver;

Chip Counts! Seeing as we've only had two requests I just dipped my counting gaze on people here and there at random - anyone else you're interested in please let us know and Rod will be happy to spend ages looking for them  ;)

Ilari Sahamies -- 6,125
Michael Keiner -- 15,325
Chad Brown -- 24,000
Stephen Pearce -- 10,800
Patrick Bueno -- 7,700
Pascal Perrault -- 8,300
Ramzi Jelassi -- 24,000
Vicky Coren -- 6,575
Barney Boatman -- 9,400  (Told me a 'bad beat' in that he did a Tikay today i.e. ran into a glass door.  "Who'd have thought they'd clean it so well?")
Danny Ryan -- 13,000
Sverre Sundbo -- 6,800
Greg Raymer -- 11,000
Steve Jelinek -- 10,500
George Danzer -- 14,650
Glen Chorny -- 15,500
Andreas Hagen -- 7,000  (only just now re-re-raising all in on the button getting rid of the small blind repopper)
Alexander Kravchenko -- 10,000
James Keys -- 10,200
Martin Wendt -- 9,800
Bo Sehlstedt -- 9,500
Ludovic Lacay -- 3,600
David Benyamine -- 11,500
Mats Iremark -- 9,800
Erica Schoenberg -- 9,500
Mickey Wernick -- 14,000
Albert Sapiano -- 29,600  (probably chip leader)
Annette Obrestad -- 6,600

Albert Sapiano FTW.

always no information about trond even in the chipcounts... poor Dana

I've to go. Could you please try to have some Frenchie's photos please ? (David Benyamine, Elky and Pascal Perrault would be perfect)

HAve fun all!

Um, he's NOT PLAYING DAY 1A.  Honestly.  They only get to play ONE of the TWO start days.  Pick someone actually playing and I'll be more than happy to go watch them for a while.  Plus JC has got you a picture of Snoopy, even though I said not to.

Aaaah, I always wondered what the purpose of separating Day 1a and Day 1b was. It's pretty subtle, you must agree.

Hurrah for beagle, he will most certainly do until tomorrow.

[PS - please see PMs re: sushi]

hi Blondes!!!! great pics already!  keep an eye on Mike McDonald, Shaun Deeb, Christian Harder, Dan Smith please?

I've just seen in my tea bag that this event will be won by a female.  Just so you know.

Good job Jen and Cat considering the booze consumption last night - I can't even remember getting back to my hotel! Luckily I am playing tomorrow - also means I get to torture myself watching England - Croatia at the local Irish Pub tonight. See you tomorrow!

I was promised beagle. >:(

I love watching Annette Obrestad play as she cuts such a fascinating character, despite being a quiet, still statue at the table, devoid of almost any motion bar the most efficient movements as she elects to bet, raise, call or fold.

I caught her in the midst of a hand, looking at a bet of 600 on a Tc Jd 5d 8c board, before reaching quietly into her stack, briskly counting out 1,800 chips and sliding them into the middle to signify a raise.

She'd clearly asked an interesting question of her table partner, as he took a while to decide what to do before ultimately making the call.

The river was the Qs and a check from mateyboy was met with a pause from Annette. Though she gave the outward impression of having been literally petrified, her brain was far from a granite block as she ran through potential avenues of play she could make on this river.

Ultimately she tapped her neatly manicured fingers on the felt to signify a check behind, perhaps feeling it wasn't a good bluff card, her opponent flipping K-T which was good as Annette could only table the draw-tastic but missed 4c 5c...

Here she is, still well above her starting stack despite that hand...

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20973&g2_serialNumber=1)

Alexander Kravchenko, looking like he'd be having more fun being covered in golden syrup and wasps, and then placed in an industrial tumble dryer.  As usual.  He just got into a confrontation with a medium-stacked young lad with curly hair - Mateylad for the purposes of this story.  Kravchenko on the button called a small bet on a 8d 8s 6h flop, and then another bet of 1,450 on the 9d turn.  Mateylad had 3,025 behind, and after ascertaining this, Kravchenko was faced with the fairly inevitable shove on the Qh river.  About five minutes of thinking about it led to an eventual fold, however.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20975&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://eresuniversitario.com/img/british.jpg)    BRITWATCH....

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20977&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20979&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20981&g2_serialNumber=1)

Apologies for the tardiness of posting at present. We are having a few internet connection problems which after much hair pulling, hand wringing and whinging have just been rectified (temporarily at least.)

Some interesting tit bits of information we have picked up along the way...

First off Rolf Slotboom's exit hand was an interesting one. After a fellow Dutchman raised on the button to 300, Rolf re-popped him to 1,200 only for his countryman to move all-in!

With 8k back Rolf took a while deciding what to do before making a brave call with A-K. His opponent tabled the unbeleivable hand of pocket deuces, leaving the two players locked in a crucial coin flip for a 20k pot...

Rolf had the Aspades and the flop fell Qs Ts 5s, giving him a multitude of outs and making him favourite to win the pot, though a 2c on the river was a bad turn card and by the time Rolf improved his hand with a Kd on the river it was too late and his tournament had been brought to a crashing halt.

Sadly there will be no intricate chip scultures today then - at least from Rolf.

That's because you have novelty tea.   But the calibre of female players pretty high... pity they make up under 5% of the field.

(http://www.passionateabout.com.au/images/bag_ladies_tea_LOGO.JPG)

Snoopy was last seen flipping Jen the bird. It could have been aimed at myself but I choose to ignore that.

As he came over I accused him of wearing wrestling T shirts and eating sandwiches. "Where's your proof?" he asked.

HERE! Admit your guilt beagle.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20983&g2_serialNumber=1)

Sorry we haven't picked up on some of the requests, we're battling with the connection a little although Jen is just about to start scouting for some of this information.

Timex aka Mike McDonald isn't playing today by the way Gobbo'smum as far as we are aware. He did however win TWO whole awards last night, the young man picking up "Overseas player Of The Year" as well as "People's Choice Player Of The Year" after winning EPT Dortmund in sensational style last year.

Just for you Dana as well, let me tell you Trond Eidsvig won "Newcomer Of The Year" for his multitude of deep runs. Kara Scott conducted interviews with all the players following the  awards and said she was very impressed with Trond's humility as he told her "I ran very good last year, I may never run that good again!"

So many players are keen on self-promotion, telling you just how good they are, it's refreshing to hear an accomplished player like Trond give an honest assessment of his fortunes. I'm not quite at Dana levels of admiration for the Norwegian but  I am impressed by his down to earth attitude. Good luck Trond!

(http://thetimetube.com/wp-content/uploads/Ugliest%20People/lyle_beaker.gif)

"Thanks!"

Niceto see that you are using your reporting skills and not using other people's material! cough cough!

Did i see Pete Woods in one of those photos?

If it was him can one of you wish him gl for me please (and that doesnt mean saying yeah ok, i mean actually go over to him and say Flushy says gl) cheers!

You're too late.  You've already been asked about!  Looks like not everyone already knows how your South of France experience went... ;)  Luck may be passed on after the break.  They're doing something weird with the staggering of the breaks - 15 min break for half the room, then half a level, then dinner break for same half of room.  15 mins play for the other half, then 15 mins break, then dinner break for that second half, so that they overlap for just half an hour thereby easing the stress on the packed casino.  Got that?  Great.  Can you explain it to me again?

OK requests searched for, with some measure of success.

Shaun Deeb - no sign.  This could either mean super early exit, or playing tomorrow.
Mike McDonald - no sign.  Ditto.
Christian Harder -- 8,400

Pascal Perrault -- Under 10k but not desperate
David Benyamine (pictured) -- 22,000
Elky - Plays tomorrow, for definite.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20985&g2_serialNumber=1)

Osman (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=688) Mustanoglu (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=688) busts a short stack... with three limpers he raised on the button to 1,100.  Early limper Patrick (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=693) Bueno (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=693) called, as did late limper Matey. 
Flop: 7d 6s 3s  Check to Mustanoglu, who throws in 2,500.  Bueno thinks for a while and passes, but limper Matey looks down at his remaining 3,025 as if it had only just occurred to him that this wasn't very much, and tossed the chips in the middle.  He stood up as Mustanoglu made the swiftest of calls with Ad Qc, against Matey's Surprise Hand which was 5h 6h.
Turn: Qh
River: Jc

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20987&g2_serialNumber=1)

And another one down...leaving 232 still playing/eating dinner depending on what half of the room they've found themselves drawn in.

chip count for the honey man please!

Can anyone identify black-sunglasses matey?  I was trying to get a no-flash low-distraction Action Shot of him check-raising the gent in the cream cardigan with his back to us.  It just about worked - he'd called a third player's preflop raise to 600 from early position, only to find the other guy re-raising preflop to 1,800.  Black Sunglasses thought for a while before calling and seeing a flop heads up of 7h 3d 5d.  Check to the re-raiser, then quick raise from 2,600 to 6,050.  Although he greatly outchipped Black Sunglasses, he declined to take this hand any further.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20989&g2_serialNumber=1)

Hello update fans, I have just returned from a rather half-assed trip to the gym to find a message on my phone from Jen. Apparently they are now experiencing Extreme Connection Difficulties and will be back with more flattering things to say about Trond Eidsvig as soon as they can.

In the meantime you may be interested to know that in a fit of self-pity at everyone being in Barcelona except me I have just ordered a veritable banquet of sushi, which is due to arrive on my doorstep in 45 minutes or less. While we are waiting for communications from the EPT to resume, I will do my best to keep you updated on the status of my Japanese feast-for-one.

Sushi not here yet. Here's a picture of what it might look like, but without the shrimp:

(http://www.imbiss-stufe.de/sushiworkshop/sushi.jpg)

There's one table surrounded by low wooden walls with a kind of brass rail all the way round it which makes it look very important even though I don't think there are any of the trappings of a Feature Table (cameras etc.).  Even so, it's funny how making a distinction between one thing and a lot of other very similar things attracts a crowd to that one... or it could be because next to Ilari Sahamies there is Erica Schoenberg. 

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20991&g2_serialNumber=1)

Hey guys!  Looking forward to the new season of the EPT, so I can start hounding u guys every few weeks to say hi to Annette for me.  So, u know what to do when u get the chance to see my favorite Norwegian poker playing pixie.  Also, dunno if he's playing today but if u could check on Chris (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=69) Moorman (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=69), that would be cool too.  Thx!

And I hate u Dana for tempting me while I'm hungry.  Sushi is my favorite food :(

Edit: Also are they using new chips on the EPT this year or just for Barcelona?

Updates and chip counts on Surinder and Barny please if you get a chance.

Table Ryan/ Raymer looks an interesting one and Raymer just played out an interesting pot.

Raising it up to 750 on 150 300 (apologies for clock discrepancies...now corrected), Raymer found a caller in middle position before a shortish stack pushed his stack into the middle for 4k more. The fossilman kept his stone on his cards, looked intently at his opponent through his amusing glasses and thought about it for a while before making the call.

The middle position limper passed...

Cards on their backs, Raymer showed an interesting hand of Jd Qd, though he found himself in better shape than he might have hoped versus his opponent as he flipped over pocket eights...

A flop of Ad 2c 3s Ahrt 9d transpired though which meant Raymer missed and a 12k pot winged its way to his fist-pumping opponent. Raymer justified his call saying "I put you on a range, was getting close to 2-1 and I thought middle pockets made up a lot of your range."

Fair enough - and he was proved right despite losing the pot...

Annette (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=902) Obrestad (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=902) is out though.

She had seen her stack cleft in two running into a set previously before she made a move to accumulate chips semi-bluffing all-in with a gutshot straight flush draw and plenty of outs but missing to send her to the rail and end any notion of adding to her impressive list of tournament results.

She was gracious in defeat though as she left the tournament though and we know the talented young lady will be back soon, hungry for success.

:( Oh well.  Annette told me the other day she had a horoscope that said something like, "Something good will happen to u in September that u never thought would happen again."  Thats scary.

Barny is OUT sadly, making what he described as a "strong play" but unfortunately running into a hand, his opponent tabling pocket Queens which held against Barny's hand.

He was actually invovled in an interesting hand earlier where he had pocket 4s on a Td 7d 2s 3c board, betting the turn and getting one caller, before the river fell an 8 and his opponent led for 2k into the 6k pot.

Barny told me he was just about to call as he felt his opponent had a missed draw when the dealer called for a ruling and said he had seen the better make a string bet and thus he was restricted to merely betting 1k.

Barny thus called and was good, although the bettor was apoplectic with rage at this claiming that Barny would have passed to the additional 1k - which seemed unlikely. In effect then the ruling actually cost Barny 1,000 chips!

Would it be possible to get an update on James Keys pls?

I actually snapped a picture of him right before the dinner break, where he shrugged in that, "Nothing much going on yet," sort of way.  But JC seems to think he's doing better now so I'll go get some refreshed counts now, with him heading the list.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20993&g2_serialNumber=1)

Cannibalism imo.

Normally would be jealous but have just had possibly the best sandwich in the world which is the Gran Casino pork tenderloin and cheese sandwich complete with small gherkin and olive on a cocktail stick.

If I'm ever strapped to an electric chair(*) and they ask me what I want for my last meal, this might well be it.

* Possibly for pun-related crimes against humanity

Honey man chip count please!!

Run away with me - they'll never catch us.

We'll be the Bonnie and Clyde of pun-related crimes.*

* I'm Clyde

Johannes Strassman just eliminated Mike McDonald (sorry for not finding him earlier, would have sworn blind on his not playing today, but we have no lists and will be sketchy on anyone who isn't a Pokerstars Pro until Day Two)...

There were the Td Tc in front of Strassman, and Timex was standing up as his remaining chips were being shifted over, saying, "Usually I win those."  Using our Poker Projection abilities, we would like to suggest that it was a two-overcard race which sent the award-winning player to the rail.

Here, on the Special Table, on the far right is Strassman, next to WPT champ Christian (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=501) Grundtvig (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=501) and then there's the dude in white whom I'm sure I recognise but can't quite place.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20999&g2_serialNumber=1)

Honey In Da Money

Albert has had a very up and down day!

Early on, he was chip leader and managed to work his stack up to a rosy 30k which was near the chip lead before being reduced to a tiny 2,000 chips.

Somehow though he has waved his sticky little wand of honey over this mini stack and transformed it into a mightily impressive 40,000! Here he is with his bulky collection of chips.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20995&g2_serialNumber=1)

Julian Thew arrived a few moments ago and went through his usual routine of signing autographs, accepting thanks for awards he hadn't even realised he won (he won the Pokerstars award for "Media Player Of The Year" last night, which was accepted on his behalf) and generally chatting to his fans and friends.

He heard about the Albert Sapiano story and was amazed. "30,000 to 2,000 to 40,000!"

"He's the new yo-yo!" I told him and maybe I thought I noticed just the smallest trace of fear in Julian's eyes at this possible  threat to his position as the all powerful yo-yo master.

Then I realised he was actually just registering amazement at how quickly Jen was eating steak. Apparently they had to kill three seperate cows before her thirst for blood was quenched.

Mild mannered poker writer and player by day, carnivorous T Rex by dinner.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21003&g2_serialNumber=1)

Woohoo...England 4 Croatia 1 - that's a surprise!!! Hoping for more good things tomorrow ;-)

Meanwhile I did drop by the casino a few hours ago: Timex was definitely playing today so if no sign of him he must be out :-(

Also, Moorman is not here - he told me lost his passport and couldn't come :-(

Brits definitely playing tomorrow: stevie444 and me

How is Steve Jelinek doing please?

The dude in the white looks like either Jason (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=2136) Mercier (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=2136) or possibly Nick Schulman???

Jason (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=2136) Mercier (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=2136), winner of EPT San Remo, who I still insist looks like Jake Gyllenhall of Donnie Darko fame.

Also sharing the felt at this table is Erica Schoenburg, making it the pick of the tables in terms of poker fame.

Interestingly, this hand would have felt like some revenge for Strassmann, who was eliminated on the final table of the EPT Dortmund by Mike (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1646) McDonald (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1646) after being smacked about by the young Canadian for much of the day.

I thought I did detect a little bit of a smug smile from Johannes as he raked in the pot.

Some pots are sweeter to win than others.

Having checked this out, Surinder is NOT playing today but he has been spotted knocking about the casino, perhaps partaking in the juicy cash games that are going on if he has managed to negotiate the enormous waiting lists that seem to have buillt up.

As requested, James Keys - 8,375. Looking short but he can turn it round I'm sure.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=20993&g2_serialNumber=1)

Thanks, hopefully you are right.

I'm sad to say I've scoured the casino and can't see Mini Me in the tournament anymore :(

I asked one of the press how he was doing and was told "he's a bit short" which was harsh I felt. Anyway it appears he's gone, but if he's still in, possibly obscured by a stack of towering three chips or so, I apologise for mis-reporting his exit and hope he can find it in his heart to forgive me.

I'm sure he'll be ok about it.

(http://www.kzoz.com/images/cms/sized/mini%20me.jpg)

LEADERWATCH:

Here are a few stacks towering over their respective tables, or reaching for the dizzy heights of Chip Leader Himself...

Ramzi Jelassi -- 34,000  A consistent performer who's been left just in the shadow of the limelight a number of times - more than once after two whole days' play and some busted Aces in a crucial pot.  Running better, it appears, and planning the rest of his touring year with the help of an EPT leaflet. 

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21007&g2_serialNumber=1)

Michael Keiner -- 63,000  Confident, early chatter who's taking it a bit more seriously, it appears, now he's in contention for going through to Day Two with a huge stack.  An early ridiculous hand saw multiple shoves in front of him with gradually increasing pocket pairs, with his beating them all and winning a monster chip-boosting pot.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21005&g2_serialNumber=1)

Then there's this guy - Mr. Pink, until someone tells me who he is.  Already sitting on a tidy stack, the gent in red sitting on his right got his whole stack in preflop with Ad Aspades vs. Mr. Pink's Kh Kd.
Flop: club Kc club  At which point he, contrary to tradition, was the one who leapt out of his chair with a strangled shout of joy, stacking his resigned-looking neighbour and giving him a field-leading 80,000 stack.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21009&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21011&g2_serialNumber=1)

Other Counts...

Erica Schoenberg -- 14,625
Christian Grundtvig -- 19,700
Johannes Strassman -- 15,500
George Danzer -- 20,600
Glen Chorny -- 12,000
Chad Brown -- 25,500
Osman Mustanoglu -- 22,300
Pascal Perrault -- 16,00 (pictured top)
Sverre Sundbo -- 9,800
Danny Ryan -- 10,500
Andreas Hagen -- 4,575
Alexander Kravchenko -- 5,000
Albert Sapiano -- 45,000
Mats Iremark -- 17,000
Mickey Wernick -- 6,000 (pictured bottom)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21015&g2_serialNumber=1)

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21013&g2_serialNumber=1)

I'm sure all the Vic cash games regulars would love to see Albert win...

He did this last year if I recall. Chip leader after two levels. Out within five...

Discovered Michael Greco after the dinner break, hovering just over his starting stack and having been moved on to James Keys' left.  He's sporting a delightful purple Littlewoods jacket, incidentally, which together with his orange hat win him colour clasher of the day award.  God Bless the V.I.P. Room indeed.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21017&g2_serialNumber=1)

Fomer WSOP ME champ Greg Raymer has been eliminated as has Vicky Coren, much to the chagrin of her many loyal followers.

Pun away with me surely?

Not reaching any stratospheric heights of chips but heading steadily towards Day Two.  Sorry the only pic I have of him is from earlier and shows him, head in hands, in what appears to be early onset despair, but I think was just sleepiness.

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21019&g2_serialNumber=1)

You don't deserve punishment... You deserve gunishment!

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRZo8CHsgp8

How about just away with you.

Danzer The Panzer

Yes the amiable german Geroge Danzer is moving alongwith the unstoppable force of a German tank, his latest coup involving no less than FOUR preflop raises as Danzer re-raised an initial raise before seeing his opponent put in a third raise.

With 11k in the pot, Danzer now moved all-in for another 17k or so and everyone was expecting his opponent to call...BUT he didn't.

A nice pot to take down without being contested but sadly we could see neither player's hole cards so we don't know whether it was a good one or not.

Danzer looked happy though as he swept up the pot. He has also beaten off the challenge posed by Stu Rutter for europe's foremost scarf wearer for the fourth year running.

Top stuff (always next year Stu)!

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21021&g2_serialNumber=1)

This is the last level of the night, and the brakes have come off, players starting to bust left and right.  The same stacks mentioned earlier are still dominant, but a few more have been added to their number, while short stacks get it in the middle with their Worst Case Scenario being, "Oh, I'm in Barcelona in the summer, feet from the beach."

One such exiter, who wasn't too happy at the time about it, was Sverre (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=752) Sundbo (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=752), who became entangled in a very big pot on his table.  It got threeway to a flop:
6d 9c Js  Danny (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1624) Ryan (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=1624) in the big blind checked, 2,500 came from Matey (there was, before all this, c. 4,500 in the pot).  Sverre, if not all in preflop (missed that bit) was all in now, so the consideration of the flop was back on Ryan.  Although fairly short stacked himself (11k) he made the call.
Turn:  3c  Both players with chips left check.
River: 6h  And again.  "Two pair," announces Matey, flipping Ahrt Jd, while Sverre tries to muck his hand and leave but isn't allowed to do so by the dealer (from my vantage point I only saw a Nine).  Rules is rules.  Danny gets to just chuck his cards away though.

Sundbo

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21023&g2_serialNumber=1)

Eliminator of Sundbo

(http://blondepoker.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=21025&g2_serialNumber=1)

Right, the end is nigh and we will be running for a taxi (it's crazy here at night) so chip counts will be provided tomorrow before Day 1B starts.  That's when we get them, that's when you get them.  ;stickaforkinme;

I just come back from a party and saw that the two photos that I asked for have been put so...
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Thanks updaters