Pokerstars.com EPT London: Day 1B - Interactive

[NoflopsHomer]

Paul Foltyn, looking up blonde on his iPhone and wondering who the hell is Pablo...

[Tonji]

good luck to all blondes in this today

[JungleCat03]

Hi guys!

An early perusal of the tables reveals some incredibly tough line ups out there.

There was no shortage of talent on show yesterday but even that has been eclipsed by the abundance of ability showcased in today's field. It should prove a very interesting day!

Off to a good start is Micky Wernick, who is at table Thew/ Ruthenberg.

He was seen betting a Queen high board and picking up a call, before the river paired one of the low cards and he faced a 1,600 bet, which he called...

His opponent showed A-Q for TPTK, but Micky had the boots, the bullets, American Airlines, pocket rockets, Aces, call 'em what you will, they were good and he boosts up to 14,000 at this point.

[JungleCat03]

You want more stars?

No problem...

Here we have Norwegian legend Thor Hansen. His list of accomplishments make for impressive reading.

$2.5 million in career winnings, 6th overall in the Scandinavian all-time money winner list, 1st in the Norwegian list, two WSOP bracelets and a lifetime of poker experience make Thor one of the best in the business.

[bovie]

So who do you people think will win this ept !!!!!! me i cant even decide if the winner will be over or under 35 years of age

[JungleCat03]

From an old star to a new one.

Some say poker is a young man's game. Well German player Sebastian Ruthenberg is one of the crop of young players to be taking the game by storm.

I spoke to Sebastian shortly after he won a bracelet in the summer, beating Chris Ferguson heads up to claim the title. Back then he was overwhelmed, his english stuttering, his eyes blinking under the glare of the watching poker media's lights, he epitomised the deer caught in the headlights.

Fast forward a few months and Sebastian found himself a winner once again, taking down the Barcelona EPT at a tough final table and suddenly his whole demeanor appeared changed. He was confident, his English was fluent and he looked every part the star oozing confidence as he laughed and joked with the media.

With two such impressive notches carved into his poker CV already, the sky is the limit for the German and he will prove a tough nut to crack for anyone who has to face off against him over the next five days.

[JungleCat03]

As I mentioned there are some brutal tables out there. There's little deadwood in this event as the creme de la creme of the poker world have turned out in force to participate.

The EPT really has grown in stature and although the strong field can be partly attributed to this EPTs proximity to the WSOPE, both geographically and time-wise, the star-studded turnout both here and at EPT Barcelona is surely part of a trend illustrating that the EPT is rapidly becoming the foremost poker tour in the world.

One table that neatly demonstrates the strength of the field is table Barry Greenstein. Joining the bearded high stakes star are blondite Keith "The Camel" Hawkins, who threatened to join the November Nine with a deep run in this year's WSOP Main Event, Devilfish, a man who is often paradoxically introduced by comperes as "The Man Who Needs No Introduction" (surely they should just say nothing then?) and Johannes Strassmann, multiple EPT final tablist and Jason Bourne look-a-like, who is tipped by many to win one sooner or later.

Such a tough line-up, not a lot of value there!

It hasn't stopped Barry Greenstein being thrilled at the prospect of today's play!



For the dubious amongst you, trust me this is Barry's "I'm having almost as much fun as it is possible to have without actually lying in a bathtub of strawberry Haagen-Daaz with Eva Longoria" face.

Next up here's that man everyone loves to hate. Somehow I luckboxed into finding the perfect angle to catch his be-jewelled knuckles glinting perfectly in the light.

Here is Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott, ex-safe cracker, poker phenomenon and musical maestro. Say no more.



And Keith Hawkins, who almost crowned a successful poker career with a WSOP Main Event final spot. A tough competitor with a heart of gold, will of steel and balls of brass, here's The Camel...

[JungleCat03]

Fossilman Buried

Greg Raymer is OUT! The former WSOP main event winner was very unlucky too...Holding Q-9 he saw a flop of 8-T-J. They don't come much better than that!

He got his stack in against his opponent who held T-J and was in great shape for an early double through till a Jack hit the river to fill his opponent up and send the Fossilman spiralling out of this EPT.

Raymer looked upset, almost to the point of tears but ever the graceful ambassador of poker, he left with his dignity intact while his lucky opponent swept up his stack.

Here he is moments before that fateful hand...

[NoflopsHomer]

Antonio Estfandiari and David Williams are playing a game. It's called, "What Erik Thinks."

Basically, the pair come up with questions like how old was the oldest person ever? And then they guess the answer and it's not the person who is correct, no no, it's whoever is closest to what Erik Seidel says is the answer.

There was a variation of this earlier last week when Antonio and Phil Laak played this as "What Johnny Lodden thinks." They asked him how long it took Marco Traniello to do his hair in the morning, Traniello answered but Laak and Estfandiari said, "No, it doesn't matter how long it takes, it only matters how long Johnny thinks it's going to take."

[The_nun]

Is Devilfish sitting infront or behind of the fan?

[JungleCat03]

A bad start for Chris Bruce, who is sharing the felt with 19 year old Canadian superstar Timex and the shark wielding Costa Rican Humberto Brenes.

He lost about 30% of his stack, betting and calling bets over flop, turn and river with pocket Jacks as an overpair, only to find his opponent with Q-Q.

A nasty situation, but Chris was canny enough to avoid terminal damage and with plenty of play left in the stacks and blinds, he will find opportunities to get those chips back with interest at some point.

[NoflopsHomer]

Devilfish calls a bet on a board for around 1,725 before shoving all-in on the river. His opponent sighs and folds, though there's a slight suspicion they were chopping when Devilfish shows .

Meanwhile on the table of Death, Noah Boeken check calls a Praz Bansi bet on a flop before both players check the turn. On the river, Boeken checks a third time to the Hitsquadder who sizes out a 1,800 bet. Boeken, in his colourful hoodie as ever, makes the call and Praz flips . Boeken taps the table and mucks.

[NoflopsHomer]

Players are now on a 15 minute break.

[Dingdell]

Can we have a face on picture of the Devilfish please. I've got a bet on at work that he's had some fillers and botox done and I need a recent photo face on please. Ty.

[jpean]

Do/Will you have a complete list of the players involved todey ?