POKERSTARS EPT: BARCELONA - INTERACTIVE

[Djinn]

A press conference has just kicked off here in the Barcelona press room - here's the skinny:

The History - 212 people, then 325 last year, from chaotic to a prepared-for tournament this year: 480 the turnout this time round... "Hopefully the rest of the EPT will carry on like this..." packed to bursting with a range of players from around Europe.  Lots of Swedes, apparently.

Now John Duthie is reminiscing on the (really quite recent) start of the thing, and its unprecedented success (apparently stemming from an idea "in the bath"), joining with Pokerstars and becoming this packed series of events.

More following from Snoops...

[snoopy1239]

Interestingly, John Duthie and colleague are giving a press conference in which they are discussing various aspects of the EPT and opening up to questions.

1st question: Do you plan to open up to other countries?

Duthie: an unequivocal yes. I've visited Germany, Poland, Portugal and a country that I don't believe exists... Czechoslovakia.

It's a question of finding good venues that can cater for the large numbers. Many are just slot casinos with low ceilings.

The legalities are an issue too. Can you charge money? etc

[Djinn]

How about extending the EPT to three start days to accommodate everyone?

 - Not such a great idea (6 day tourney a bit much for most players to fit in) - would rather find a way to have more players per start day; raising the buy-in would be "a bit unfair"...


(While I'm telling you all this sideline stuff, and listening to the press regulations, Snoopy is doing the real part - getting a list of players and maybe a couple of photos)

[snoopy1239]

Spotted a few players still at the felt:

Rory Mathews
Ulriksen
JP Kelly
Doc (from Walsall)
Martin Wendt
Peter Smythe
Torstein Iversen
Luca Pagano
James Arkenhead
Johnny Lodden
Nick Gibson
Julian Thew
Jeff Buffenbarger
Christer Johnanssen

(please excuse any incorrect spellings)

[Royal Flush]

hello snooooooopy, hello jeeeeeeeen

[Dingdell]

Ooooh good JP in one of his first sponsored events for Blue Square I think? be interesting to see how he bluffs and steals plays under sponsorship.  

Tracey  

[hartwith]

snoop are you sure u saw rory matthews, because he's in vegas til next week?!!

[RED-DOG]

Hi Jen/ Snoops!

Glad to see you finaly made it, I bet you're cream crackered. Never mind, you can now settle down to a nice long night of keeping me informed and entertained. What more could you ask?

PS: I'll tell Stellios you said Hi.

[RED-DOG]

Ooooh good JP in one of his first sponsored events for Blue Square I think? be interesting to see how he bluffs and steals plays under sponsorship.  

Tracey  

JP is sponsored now? well no one told me.

Bout time though, he will definately do some damage this year!!

[snoopy1239]

A few chippy counts for you:

JP Kelly -- 4,550
Peter Smythe -- 10,500
Tony Chessa -- 8,400
Ulriksen -- 28,500
Martin Wendt -- 13,200
Julian Thew -- 9,525
Jeff Buffenbarger -- 3,225
Luca Pagano -- 10,425

[Royal Flush]

A few chippy counts for you:

JP Kelly -- 4,550

Tell him to pull his finger out!

[snoopy1239]

snoop are you sure u saw rory matthews, because he's in vegas til next week?!!

hmm, I was looking at the back of him a must have made a rather rash assumption. I'd better double check that 1

[snoopy1239]

A few chippy counts for you:

JP Kelly -- 4,550

Tell him to pull his finger out!

out of what?

[snoopy1239]

Been here 5 minutes and I'm already being mocked, jeered and bullied.

Tony Chessa and JP are mocking my pink shoes.

 

[Royal Flush]

Been here 5 minutes and I'm already being mocked, jeered and bullied.

Tony Chessa and JP are mocking my pink shoes.

 

Coming from the Ribena!