Thursday, June 30, 2016

Curing WSOP EnvyNO Deposit bonus $43

If you're anything like me (and, in the event you are, I'm really sorry) if in case you have a nagging case of global Series of Poker Envy creeping up on you. It starts like a summer cold. You hope maybe it's just allergies. There are a couple of random tweets popping out of Vegas by which someone is updating her chip stack, and also you think, "I WILL BE ABLE TO beat this. It won't get me this year." The following thing you know, you're hard-refreshing updates on every available online platform, riffling your souvenir chip stack, and challenging your dog to play heads-up for rolls. After which the dog wins, because he's well-trained, and also you were too damned aggressive.

That's the way it goes, and it'll last for an additional seven weeks unless you do something positive about it. 

What to do? Well, it is a process. For me, it's knowing that the PokerStars Blog will eventually be headed out to Vegas for its 12th consecutive year. Within the meantime, it's my job to appear out for those of you who've the itch this weekend. 

So, listed here are some quick fixes that can assist you get in the course of the early stages. 

As I wrote yesterday, the KidPoker documentary is now available on Netflix in select countries. I watched it yesterday, and though I've known Daniel Negreanu for many years now, I learned so much that I DID NOT know. Whether you're keen on him or hate him, you'll come clear of the documentary with a stronger understanding of 1 of the world's best known players. 

KIDPOKER POSTER MASTER.jpg

Need your WSOP Envy cure? Click here to get a PokerStars account.

The other day, Kara Scott (decked out in a green dress) jogged my memory of the Barenaked Ladies line that usually made me laugh from the song "If I had 1,000,000 Dollars." It in order that happened, that was across the same time PokerStars announced it was bringing back the $5 Spin & Go tourneys that award as much as $1 million. 

Once again, for a limited time, the $5 Spin & Go events offers you the risk to bink a million-dollar win in a question of minutes. That may go far toward getting you to the WSOP and cure that case of summer camp envy.

Thumbnail image for 1-milly-spin-go.jpg

If you'd rather grind away your problems this weekend, consider the new PokerStars challenge. All you need to do is join and take a look at to construct your individual pyramid of wins. Whenever you do, you'll be able to win anywhere between $1 and $5,000 each day until June 10. 

You can find full details at the Pyramid challenge right here. 

James Hartigan and Joe Stapleton are back with the 49th episode in their EPT Not Live podcast. It is a good companion to the KidPoker documentary, because Negreanu is a guest at the show. In it, they speak about Negreanu's recent trip to Romania before attending to discussing the Super High Roller Bowl, the WSOP, the Rocky franchise, Game of Thrones, and American politics.

You can hearken to the entire thing here.

EPT NotLive v55.jpg

Again, this isn't a super option, but as I CANNOT play on PokerStars, and i have already checked off the opposite other two options, the dog goes to need to sit with me again. If she slow-rolls me with aces again, I CAN have a dog on the market on the WSOP. 

Have some other cures? Tell us on our Twitter account, @PokerStarsBlog.

Ready to join PokerStars? Click here to get an account.Brad Willis is the PokerStars Head of Blogging.


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Regulation, Not Prohibition, Found as Best Online Gambling PolicyNO Deposit bonus $43

A bipartisan group acknowledged that the UIGEA was flawed by nature and online gambling could best be controlled through regulation.

Play Now at Slots Plus Casino! Discussion last week in the course of the markup of H.R. 2267, Barney Frank's measure regulating online gambling, resulted in the expressed belief by nearly all of the home Financial Services Committee that oversight is the right kind policy regarding Internet gaming, versus the UIGEA ban. Even if Spencer Bachus, the ranking Republican and a determined foe of gambling expansion, described horror stories of gaming, listeners said his anecdotes only confirmed the failure of the web casino prohibition.

Bachus used a newspaper story within the Orlando Sentinel, which he repeatedly confused with the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, for example the hazards of gambling. Consistent with Bachus, the thing stated 12-year-olds addicted to gambling, and desperate calls to problem gambling help lines.

But Representative Mary Jo Kilroy of Ohio retorted that the existence of the tale shows the failure of the UIGEA to dam casino sites, leaving regulation of gambling operators because the only responsible course. Over 5000 calls to counselors addressing compulsive gambling issues demonstrates the necessity to protect residents left in peril by the problematic prohibition.

John Campbell, a Republican from California, joined within the criticism of the UIGEA, saying regulation and oversight should replace the payment processing ban, which have been cited for its placement of unreasonable enforcement duties at the financial industry.

The argument that the technology doesn't exist to correctly regulate online gambling has also faded, as Democratic Congressman Gary Peters of Michigan testified players may also be identified as to the state of origin, and the facility to require proper age checks can easily be included.

Published on August 3, 2010 by PrestonLewis



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MicroMillions 6: expect more wins probably the most in Event #85, $2.22+R NLHE (3x-Turbo, Saturday Splash Special Edition)NO Deposit bonus $43

With MicroMillions 6 winding to a detailed this weekend, one of the vital last things at the schedule was a different edition of the Saturday Splash. Fans of this tournament realize it well - a $2.22 no-limit hold'em event with a turbo structure and unlimited re-buys for the primary 90 minutes that often awards. Normally it sports a $50,000 guarantee but for MicroMillions that was tripled to $150,000.

This Saturday's siren call drew 19,405 sailors to the shore by the tip of late registration and coaxed 72,242 re-buys and 10,429 add-ons from their pockets, building a complete prize pool of $206,193.52. That arrange a top prize of $22,253.20, which might be awarded not up to seven hours after the tournament began. What else are you able to do with two dollars that may bring that sort of return?

By 4:37 p.m. ET the overall table was set, with 1.6M/3.2M/320K blinds and antes and these nine players seeking to join the ranks of MicroMillions champions:

MM6-085 ft.jpg

Seat 1: MAGA777MAGA (131,975,370 in chips)Seat 2: it5tricky (31,418,739 in chips)Seat 3: tomicic (16,341,024 in chips)Seat 4: lahmaputra (36,867,088 in chips)Seat 5: Mist€r.pc (64,409,684 in chips)Seat 6: martella31 (77,149,291 in chips)Seat 7: RiKiHC (23,276,299 in chips)Seat 8: BUWUBALO (52,964,144 in chips)Seat 9: expect more (15,340,9361 in chips)

Starting with a bang

Croatia's tomicic arrived on the final table with a stack worth just over five big blinds and got it all in play at the first actual hand, moving all-in for 16M. lahmapura of the Czech Republic, also fairly short with just 36.6M chips, went into the time bank before finally electing to name with Q♠ 7♥. THe timing couldn't has been so much worse as tomicic held a dominating A♣ 7♦ and was an outstanding favorite to double up. However the 5♥ 8♥ T♥ flop and 4♥ turn have lahmaputra a heart flush, and the 3♠ sent tomicic to the rail in 9th place ($1,237.16).

Nobody was desperate to get too involved, possibly as a result of difference of nearly $1,200 between busting out next and making it to 7th place. Because of this most hands were taken down before the flop with little resistance. Hand #10 finally saw a transformation of pace as Russian player MAGA777MAGA's opening raise to 7.2M was re-raised all-in for 47.6M by itStricky from the uk. MAGA777MAGA called with A♣ 4♦ and outlasted Q♦ T♦ on a board of 7♥ 4♠ 2♦ 7♣ 6♥ to knock itStricky out in 8th place ($1,855.74).

The blinds and antes went as much as 2M/4M/400K two hands later and the pattern from the start of the general table persisted until Hand #15, when Romania's expect more flexed a little bit muscle in position to transport into the chip lead:

RSS readers, please click through for replay

MAGA777MAGA made up for that loss partially at the next hand when Canada's RiKiHC moved in from early position for a little under two big blinds, MAGA777MAGA isolated with a raise and showed A♦ T♣, while RiKiHC held Q♣ 9♣. Both players paired at the 3♠ A♣ Q♦ flop, however the 8♠ turn and 6♦ changed nothing further and RiKiHC was gone in 7th place ($3,092.90).

The Russian player struck another blow just three hands later, this one the largest of the general table up to now. The Ukraine's BUWUBALO opened the betting with an all-in bet of 45.1M, and expect more called from the small blind with 146M left behind. Then MAGA777MAGA moved all-in for 170M within the big blind, clearing expect more out of how for a heads-up pot. BUWUBALO had opened the betting with J♣ J♦ only to run into Q♣ Q♠, and and not using a jack at the 9♣ 4♥ 2♣ 6♦ 8♥ board the Ukrainian player was eliminated in 6th place ($5,154.83).

Mighty MAGA777MAGA

After taking the following pot for 30M with an all-in re-raise before the flop, MAGA777MAGA had a considerable lead with five players left and the blinds and antes still at 2M/4M/400K:

Seat 1: MAGA777MAGA (263,358,696 in chips)Seat 4: lahmaputra (40,488,112 in chips)Seat 5: Mist€r.pc (34,189,685 in chips)Seat 6: martella31 (103,509,289 in chips)Seat 9: expect more (146,265,218 in chips)

There was soon a burst of action that may cut into that lead. Portugal's Mist€r.pc stacked as much as 84.2M to be had #23 after moving in with K♦ Q♣ and getting MAGA777MAGA to name with K♥ J♦. lahmaputra did the similar at the next hand, with A♥ K♦ against the Russian's Q♥ T♦, for a double to 87.1M. By Hand #36 MAGA777MAGA held 187M chips and Mist€r.pc was in a great place to double throughout the Russian after an excessively friendly flop, however the turn changed everything:

RSS readers, please click through for replay

That eight at the turn gave MAGA777MAGA the 215M-chip pot and sent Mist€r.pc to the rail in 5th place ($7,216.77).

MM6-085 ft four-handed.jpg

That gave MAGA777MAGA a 290M-chip stack and the Russian put it to good use, leaning at the other three players over the following dozen hands and stealing enough blinds and antes to transport up over 340M. Hand #49 erased much of that progress, Holding A♦ 4♦, MAGA777MAGA opened under the gun for 125M, enough to transport anyone of the opposite players on the table all-in, and expect more called from the massive blind with J♥ J♦. The 7♦ 9♥ Q♦ kept expect more within the lead by gave MAGA777MAGA 11 good outs going to the turn. The J♣ came there and took the 3 aces within the deck away but left seven of the diamonds in play. The 2♥ at the river was safe for expect more, giving the Romanian player a lifeline with the 207M chips within the pot.

Both lahmaputra and Poland's martella31 were hanging on with stacks worth about 13 big blinds. martella31 doubled that available #57 with A♣ Q♦ against expect more's K♣ Q♥, but after a lull gave much of it back available #72:

RSS readers, please click through for replay

The battle between the 2 short stacks continued after lahmaputra doubled through MAGA777MAGA available #78 with A♦ 2♥ against 8♦ 6♦. They finally ended up clashing with each other to be had #83 when lahmaputra moved in for 58.6M at the button and martella31 raised to isolate, leaving 4.21M behind after expect more folded within the big blind. lahmaputra was ahead with K♠ T♣ against Q♦ J♣ and stayed there after the board came 9♥ 5♦ A♣ A♠ K♣. martella ended up all-in two hands later and mucked after expect more and lahmaputra checked down the A♥ T♣ A♦ 7♦ 8♥ board, expect more won the pot with K♣ J♣ and martella31 left the tournament in 4th place ($9,278.70).

Standoff at three

lahmaputra managed to come again within the game available #94 after flopping middle pair and outrunning MAGA777MAGA's inside straight draw. Two hands after that lahmaputra got the simpler of MAGA777MAGA again after flopping an inside straight draw, calling an inexpensive bet to hit it at the turn, and getting paid at the river. That left the 3 players stacked like so:

MM6-085 ft three-handed.jpg

Seat 1: MAGA777MAGA (129,363,931 in chips)Seat 4: lahmaputra (223,009,792 in chips)Seat 9: expect more (235,437,277 in chips)

lahmaputra put all those chips in danger in a foul spot available #101, coming excessive of expect more's 14M bet for 185M with [A♣ Q♠ and running into A♠ K♥, however the board came 5♦ 5♥ 3♦ 3♥ 4♠ for a split pot. Ten hands later the Czech player's run would come to an end after moving all-in excessive of MAGA777MAGA's 24M-chip opener. The Russian called with A♣ K♣ and promptly caught two pair at the A♠ K♥ J♣ flop. The Q♣ turn left open the risk of splitting the pot with a ten, however the 3♦ hit the river instead and lahmaputra was out in 3rd place ($17,526.44).

Heads-up(set)

MAGA777MAGA held a pleasing advantage as heads-up play began with 4M/8M/800K blinds and antes:

MM6-085 ft hu.jpg

Seat 1: MAGA777MAGA (374,773,723 in chips)Seat 9: expect more (213,037,277 in chips)

expect more only won some of the first four pots as MAGA777MAGA kept the pressure on, however the fifth was a large win way to the very best river card:

RSS readers, please click through for replay

Now it was expect more who applied the pressure, winning seven of the following 11 pots to transport right into a lead of 68 big blinds. The 17th hand of heads-up saw both players pick up big starting hands, expect more with A♥ Q♥ and MAGA777MAGA with A♠ T♣, and the entire Russian's remaining chips went within the middle before the 4♥ 4♣ Q♠ flop. Only running tens could save MAGA777MAGA, however the 5♠ and K♠ came instead to bring the tournament to an end jsut six hours and 22 minutes after it began.

Thoguh MAGA777MAGA fell one spot in need of the victory, the $17,526.44 runner-up prize was still ten times larger than the Russian player's previous career-best cash. Champion expect more's $22,253.20 prize was also a brand new high-water mark at $7,500 greater than the former best, though that tournament's buy-in was $109 in comparison to the $2.22 minimum investment on this event. That's serious money regardless of the way you have a look at it, so congratulations to both for his or her play.

MicroMillions-085: $2.22+R NL Hold'em (3x-Turbo, Saturday Splash Special Edition)Entrants: 19,405 (72,242 re-buys, 10,429 add-ons)Prize pool: $206,193.52Places paid: 2,475

1. expect more (Romania) $22,253.202. MAGA777MAGA (Russia) $17,526.443. lahmaputra (Czech Republic) $13,402.574. martella31 (Poland) $9,278.705. Mist€r.pc (Portugal) $7,216.776. BUWUBALO (Ukraine) $5,154.837. RiKiHC (Canada) $3.092.908. itStricky (UK) $1,855.749. tomicic (Croatia) $1,237.16

Jason Kirk is a contract contributor to PokerStars Blog.



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Florida Bill Proposes Intrastate Online GamblingNO Deposit bonus $43

A Florida lawmaker has introduced a bill regulating Internet poker and establishing online gambling administration and licensing.

A bill introduced to the Florida legislature Friday would legalize intrastate online gambling and regulate it during the Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering. State Representative Joseph Abruzzo authored the web Poker Consumer Protection and Revenue Generation Act of 2010.

If the bill passes, it might create a position as Internet hub operator, which might administer online poker rooms connecting players residing in Florida. Players would register accounts at affiliated card rooms, which might be answerable for providing patrons to the web gaming operator.

The online gambling operator can be charged a $500,000 licensing fee, while each card room that wished to be an affiliate would pay $1000 for a license. The rake could be taxed 20 percent by the state before being divided among operator and affiliates.

Internet operational licensing will require that applicants be incorporated within the state of Florida, ruling out attempts by established overseas Internet gambling companies from assuming the mantle of Florida online poker operator. However, the bill leaves open the potential for multiple hub operator.

Provisions are included that require age checking on the time of funding of accounts, in addition to measures designed to affirm identity, guard against money-laundering, and make allowance for self-exclusion and other problem gambling safeguards.

Abruzzo says almost 1,000,000 Floridians already take part in online gambling at unregulated sites run by offshore operators. He states his bill would generate over $200 million for the state within the first year of operation.

Abruzzo expressly draws within the bill the precise to create intrastate online gambling regulation from the wording of the UIGEA federal Internet gambling ban.

Published on March 1, 2010 by MattMiller



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$200 million luxury hotel development announced for Maryland Live! CasinoNO Deposit bonus $43

The Cordish companies shared plans for an important expansion to its Maryland Live! Casino property, located in Hanover, MD. The brand new $200 millionLIVE! HOTEL, the biggest enhancement and investment on the Casino since its opening in June 2012, brings hundreds of latest jobs, dining and entertainment options, a luxury day spa and salon, and event center to the region's top gaming and entertainment destination.

The flagship Live! Hotel might be located directly adjacent to Maryland Live! Casino at Arundel Mills and add an extra 350,000-square-feet of space to the State's largest gaming facility. Featuring a 17-story hotel tower with 310 luxury guest rooms, an event center, meeting spaces, new dining options, and an afternoon spa/salon, the growth will offer guests of the Casino the chance to play the day away, then relax and rejuvenate with comfortable accommodations and amenities just steps from the casino floor.

"Maryland Live! Casino is the premier gaming, entertainment and retail destination serving the guts of the Baltimore/Washington population," said Robert J. Norton, president, Cordish Global Gaming Group. "The addition of our flagship Live! Hotel is simply the most recent investment we're making to verify Maryland Live! remains to be the most well liked choice for visitors seeking a world-class gaming and entertainment experience."

Live! Hotel Highlights:

  • A 17-Story Tower in order to be the tallest building in Anne Arundel County
  • 310 luxury guestrooms, including 52 Suites, featuring warm wood colors with accents of polished ebony
  • Grand Event Center
  • 1,500-seat Concert Venue
  • Built-in Performance Stage
  • State-of-the-Art Audio/Visual and Seating Systems
  • Banquet Seating Capability as much as 800
  • Flexible Pre-Function, Meeting Space, and Executive Boardroom
  • 24-Hour CafĂ© with options for open kitchen viewing and community seating
  • Gelato Bar offering expertly crafted espresso, coffee drinks,fresh-baked pastries, and all kinds of Italian specialty gelato.
  • Signature Lobby Bar with greater than 50 seats
  • A Luxury Day Spa & Salon, including a state-of-the-art Fitness Center
  • The New Shop Live! Retail Store
  • Approximately 1,000 additional parking spaces The Cordish Companies has assembled an award-winning team of contractors, project architects and architects for the flagship Live! Hotel project, including Klai Juba Wald Architects, McLaren Engineering Group, Laurence Lee Associates, Cleo Design Corporation, Selbert Perkins, Corsi & Associates, Lynne Curry Spa Consulting, Giovanetti Schulman Assoc., and EDSA. Tutor Perini Building Corporation will function the overall Contractor.

Together, these celebrated firms are chargeable for creating one of the most magnificent casinos, resorts and hotels within the world.

The Project is anticipated to create approximately 400 new jobs and 550 construction jobs for the region; at the side of numerous operations vendor opportunities for local, minority, women and veteran-owned businesses.

Groundbreaking at the hotel tower is scheduled for Fall 2016 with project completion slated for 4(th) Quarter 2017.



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Missouri Congressmen Push for Regulated Online GamblingNO Deposit bonus $43

Two US Representatives from Missouri are joining the fight to bring regulation to online gambling on the federal level.

Missouri's Congressional delegation is officially behind efforts to control online gambling at the federal level, after the state legislature passed an entice Congress to finish the sports betting ban. Representatives William Lacy Clay and Russ Carnahan both have signed as much as co-sponsor Barney Frank's bill outlining licensing and regulation for Internet gaming operators.

The lawmakers criticized the UIGEA ban, saying it's disingenuous of the law's supporters to say the prohibition will end  US residents' patronizing online casinos. The UIGEA was in comparison to an ostrich-like head-in-the-sand approach to coping with the brand new reality of Internet gambling.

The Congressmen also were a part of the crowd of federal lawmakers who successfully appealede to the Treasury to withhold implementation of the UIGEA until Comngress has an opportunity to deal with the situation.

"We shouldn't be so naive to think that we'll get rid of gambling by passing that (UIGEA) law," Clay said.

"It's (online gambling) the type of thing that requires clear rules and regulations in order that it functions well," Carnahan added.

John Pappas of the Poker Players Alliance agreed, saying, "PERSONS ARE playing online by the millions. Whether you prefer it or not, the genie is out of the bottle."

The legislators also want the united states to milk the massive prospects to create revenue by regulating online gambling.

"I think $42 billion is a vital sum that the government must fund probably the most programs which might be worthy and that Americans benefit from," stated Clay, citing figures estimated by a PriceWaterhouse study to be the potential of a decade's taxation of Internet gambling.

Published on February 26, 2010 by A.J.Maldonado




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EPT12 Grand Final: €25K High roller Day 1 coverage archiveNO Deposit bonus $43

We all knew this tournament was going to be huge - it usually is. So it wasn't an enormous surprise to peer a brand new Grand Final record set for the largest ever €25K.

That was certainly true today as 173 players ponied up the €25,000 buy-in for this three-day high roller event - ten greater than last year! We had 47 re-entries (making 220 entries total) so second bullets were being fired at will (although a 3rd was out of the question), and that is the reason going to ensure we have now one heck of a juicy prize pool after registration closes tomorrow, when 95 players will return.

This is the largest buy-in event left at the schedule here on the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo®Casino EPT12 Grand Final, and it's therefore the last chance for these guys to either dig themselves out of a financial hole (Monte Carlo is expensive!), or if you are Ole Schemion - who won the 100K and came runner-up within the single-day 50K - it is your last chance not to win a minimum of six figures here in Monaco. I DON'T BELIEVE he will be capable to pull that off, though.

Schemion's still in but short with 20,400 after busting and re-entering on the last level of the night, however the player leading the way in which overnight is none as opposed to Niall Farrell. It was a perfect day for the EPT12 Malta champ and France Poker Series main event runner-up; he got off to a flying start and not came back to earth, remaining on the top of the counts for a lot of the day.

farrellday1.jpg

Niall Farrell's hot streak in Monaco continues

When asked if he believed within the curse of the chip leader, Farrell said: "No man, I'll take being the chip leader all of the time."

"[Today was] pretty great all round. My value bets got called and my bluffs got through."

He'll start tomorrow with 311,200 going into Level 11 (1,000/2,000, 300 ante), and can be trying to extend his lead at the other biggest stacks within the room, including Enrico Coppola (302,100), Saar Wilf (288,000), Dong Zhao (278,900), David Dayan (272,900), Dan Smith (272,500), and Ivan Luca (271,300).

We had several Team Pros within the running, including Andre Akkari, Jason Mercier, Liv Boeree, and Friend of PokerStars Felipe Ramos. All of them survived and can be back tomorrow.

Elsewhere, Jean-Noel Thorel was up and down the counts in his typical style; Igor Kurganov managed to acquire a pleasing stack while also playing a heads-up match on his laptop; and defending champ Charlie Carrel dusted off two bullets and will not be returning tomorrow.

One player who didn't get off to a flyer was Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu. He busted in brutal fashion not long after registering late within the day, when Phil Gruissem rivered a straight against his top set. It didn't take him long to shop for back in though, and he ended the day with 136,700.

Here's how the largest stacks within the room look, plus a couple of other notable names:

Niall Farrell - 311,200Saar Wilf - 288,000Dong Zhao - 278,900David Dayan - 272,900Dan Smith - 272,500Ivan Luca - 271,300Erik Seidel - 177,300Andre Akkari - 170,000Daniel Negreanu - 136,700Adrian Mateos - 124,000Anthony Zinno - 123,000Steve O'Dwyer - 77,600Liv Boeree - 71,400Mike McDonald - 56,700Jason Mercier - 54,900Dzmitry Urbanovich - 38,600Igor Kurganov - 25,000Ole Schemion - 20,400

Play kicks off at 12:30pm tomorrow so you'll want to come again and join us for Day 2 of this event. Tomorrow also sees 28 players return for Day 5 of the principle event, including Team Pro Vanessa Selbst, Dario Sammartino, Antoine Saout, and Joao Vieira all still within the hunt. Play in that tournament starts slightly earlier at noon.

Get some sleep, and we'll see you tomorrow. Bonsoir! --JS

01:10am: Play endsLevel 10 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)

That's it for day one among this event and it looks as if Niall Farrell has finished with the largest stack within the room. A recap of the day's play will appear above shortly. Overnight chip counts might be made available in an hour or so, however the seat draw might not be available at the blog until play has started tomorrow at 12.30 CEST. --NW

12:50am: Last fiveLevel 10 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)

The clock was paused and there'll be five more hands before play is completed for the day. Niall Farrell, Dan Smith and Ivan Luca all have around 280,000 and are contesting the chip lead. --NW

12:35am: How high can we go?Level 10 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)

The tournament has just ticked as much as 210 entries (including 40 re-entries), so it is not quite equalled last year's edition, which got 215 entries in total. However, with late registration open until the beginning of play tomorrow, it is a case of when not if this eclipses that figure.

12:35am: How go Team Pro?Level 10 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)

With about 25 minutes left within the night there are four members of Team PokerStars Pro still going strong. They are:

Daniel Negreanu - 115,000Liv Boeree - 114,000Andre Akkari - 102,000Jason Mercier - 39,600

12:15am: Korotkikh shows the bluffLevel 10 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)

Enrico Coppola opened to 3,300 and Mikhail Korotkikh then made a giant all-in move. His shove was for 69,000 and Coppola, who had a stack of around 200,000, was giving it some serious thought. Eventually though he elected to fold and Korotkikh showed J♣8♣ as he took the pot.

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE
10 800 1,600 200

12:05am: Chidwick eliminates SoikaLevel 9 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)

Daniel Negreanu's second bullet goes better than the primary as he's as much as 70,000. He looked on as Stephen Chidwick and Ihar Soika played a large pot. On a 3♥8♠5♣ flop Soika bet 2,700, Chidwick raised it as much as 8,000 and Soika smooth called.

The 7♦ hit the turn, Chidwick moved all-in for an efficient 15,000 and Soika snap called. He turned over K♥K♠ and was prior to Chidwick's 9♣9♥. However, the 6♦ river filled Chidwick's straight and he's as much as 65,000 because of this whilst Soika is out, for now. --NW

12am: Petrangelo having funLevel 9 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)

Despite having just below 20 big blinds Nick Petrangelo is in a jovial mood. He's at a fun table, person who includes Paul Hoefer and Georgios Zisimopoulos. A round of beers arrived just in time for Petrangelo to open to 2,700, it folded round to Hoefer, who was within the big blind, and the German called the additional 1,500.

The 8♥9♥3♣ flop was checked through and the 4♥ fell on fourth street. After Hoefer checked Petrangelo said: "Now it is time to start betting," before he too checked. The 8♣ fell at the river and Hoefer bet 4,000. Petrangelo - who started the hand with about 22,000 - flicked within the call and Hoefer rolled over J♠7♥.

"Do you've a straight?" said Petrangelo cheekily as he opened A♦K♥. "Oh no, you might have nothing," he added and Zisimopoulos, Hoefer and Petrangelo cracked up on the joke. --NW

epT12 grand final high roller day1 nick petrangelo.jpg

Nick Petrangelo

11:58pm: Dvoress isn't any moressLevel 9 - Blinds 600/1,200 (100 ante)

Serbia's Ognjen Sekularac unfolded a pot to 2,900 and Mark Teltscher called out of the small blind, as did Daniel Dvoress from the large. The flop came 4♠2♥K♥ and it checked to Sekularac who continued for 3,300. Teltscher made the call, and Dvoress decided the time was right to get it within the. bet was 21,300 and that was an excessive amount of for the unique raiser, but Teltscher made the call.

Dvoress - 9♥7♥Teltscher - K♣T♣

Dvoress would wish a heart to pop Teltscher's top pair to the post, nevertheless it came the T♠ at the turn and the 2♠ at the river and he was out. Teltscher is now playing 120,000. --JS

11:45pm: Boeree busts BensadounLevel 9 - Blinds 600/1,200 (100 ante)

Jonathan Bensadoun moved all-in from the under the gun for 20,000 and it folded around to Team Pro Liv Boeree. She asked for a count and made a rapid call when she discovered the quantity. It folded the remainder of the way in which and Boeree was way ahead along with her A♣Q♣ against 7♦T♣.

The T♠J♣9♦ flop put Bensadoun in front but only until the Q♦ turn. The J♠ river sealed the Frenchman's fate and Boeree moved as much as 66,500. --JS

11:30pm: King KenneyLevel 9 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)

Bryn Kenney is as much as 150,000 after winning a large pot against Ariel Mantel. The yankee was the pre-flop aggressor, raising it as much as 2,700, Mantel defended from the large blind. At the 8♥7♦2♥ flop Kenney c-bet 3,300, Mantel check-raised to 9,000 and Kenney called.

At the J♣ turn Mantel fired out 11,500 and Kenney again smooth called. On the T♥ river Mantel shoved for an efficient 50,000 and Kenney went into the tank and emerged with a choice. Mantel was bluffing with 5♠4♥ and Kenney had called him all the way down to T♣9♥. Mantel was left with a micro stack but doubled as much as around 10 big blinds shortly afterwards. --NW

EPT12 grand final high roller day1 bryn kenney.jpg

Kenney's climbing

11:20pm: Farrell gets thereLevel 9 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)

Xixiang Luo let loose a noisy cry of anguish and it didn't take too long to determine why. He'd got his stack of 70,000 within the middle pre-flop with A♠A♣ and Niall Farrell had put him in peril with K♣K♥. The 6♠7♣8♦T♠ flop and switch were clean, however the K♠ river was a fatal blow.

Luo even got out his phone to take a photograph of the board for posterity. "BE SURE TO get me within the picture because then people will know why it happened," quipped Farrell. He's as much as 245,000 now and the last time he got off to this good a start he won EPT Malta. --NW

11:10pm: Gruissem gets lucky to bust NegreanuLevel 9 - Blinds 600/1,200 (100 ante)

Not an excellent start for Kid Poker...

Felipe Ramos filled us in at the hand. Phillip Gruissem opened under the gun and it folded to Negreanu who defended his big blind. Negreanu led for 4,000 at the Jack-seven-eight flop and Gruissem raised to 10,000, which Negreanu called. The turn was indeed a six and Negreanu jammed along with his top set. Gruissem called with top pair but got lucky to make a straight when a nine hit the river.

Negreanu is gone but, as he says, it is just his first bullet. We're certain to see him again, but meanwhile Gruissem is as much as 110,000. --JS

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE
9 600 1,200 200

10:51pm: Break timeLevel 8 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

Players have gone on their last break of the day. Back in 20 minutes. --JS

10:50pm: A Stern hand for KurganovLevel 8 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

Kully Sidhu opened to 2,500 under the gun and it folded to Zvi Stern within the cut-off. He made the call, and was the one caller when Igor Kurganov three-bet to 10,000 from the massive blind.

The two saw a 3♣T♠3♠ flop land and Kurganov continued for 8,000. That bet was called and the K♠ hit the turn, but now Kurganov bogged down and checked, as did Stern.

We saw the 6♠ river card and Kurganov awoke again with a 26,500 bet. Stern, headphones on, thought for an even minute or two - counting out the chips and waving them in his hand. Eventually he slammed down the decision and Kurganov quickly turned over the A♦A♣. Stern looked just a little surprised and mucked. He's all the way down to 92,000 while Kurganov is as much as 159,000. --JS

10:45pm: Great call from MercierLevel 8 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)

I reached the table to peer a K♥7♥A♦7♣T♦ board at the felt. There has been roughly 15,300 within the middle and of venture of 8,500 in front of Dietrich Fast. The player within the tank was Jason Mercier and it was a good percentage of his stack to call, but call he did. Fast showed 8♥6♥ for a busted draw, Mericer had 3♠3♦ for a couple of threes!

He's as much as 53,000 now, Fast is all the way down to 9,000. --NW

10:35pm: Story time with Daniel NegreanuLevel 8 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

Have you heard the only concerning the mice and the tubes? I'll let Kid Poker explain.

Daniel Negreanu: "THERE HAVE BEEN these mice, and there has been a tube that they may go down and on the end could be some cheese [These aren't his exact words, but you will get the theory.]. The mice would go down it five times and get the cheese, but then they might switch it in order that the mice would get electrocuted [I AM NOT sure who 'they' are].

"Even though they were now getting electrocuted, the mice continued to head down the tube. They believe 'But I got cheese once!' And that is the reason like poker. If people win early, they continue to play, because they believe 'Well, I won once! It will happen again!'"

Salman Behbahani, Felipe Ramos and Phil Gruissem were riveted, like school kids in an assembly. --JS

eat12 grand final high roller day1 daniel negreanu.jpg

Listen up, schools in session

10:25pm: Peters busts, re-entersLevel 8 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)

David Peters just busted out in an enormous flip against Roman Emelyanov. The yank opened to 3,300 from the small blind with A♠Q♥ just for Emelyanov to transport all-in from the massive blind for 65,000. Peters tanked before calling and he was racing against Emelyanov's pocket eights.

Depite flopping a gutshot straight draw to compliment his overcards Peters bricked the turn and river but has since re-entered with a fresh stack of 50,000. --NW

10:20pm: Fun and games with Jean-Noel ThorelLevel 8 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)

Jean-Noel Thorel was as much as 220,000 but he's dropped back off to 110,000 after losing a sequence of pots. The principle beneficiaries of these chips seem to be Ivan Luca (168,000) and Simon Higgins (140,000). --NW

10:17pm: Negreanu's within the houseLevel 8 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

As he so often does in tournaments, Team Pro Daniel Negreanu registered for this event after the dinner break. He's within the mix and began with 50,000, but certainly one of his first hands didn't visit plan. He made it 2,200 under the gun just for Phil Gruissem to make it 5,500 and Salman Behbahani to make it 13,200. Negreanu gave it up, as did Philbort. --JS

10:08pm: Sick run-outLevel 8 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

A pre-flop betting war saw Oliver Weis get it in with the J♣J♦ and Yang Wang get it in with the Q♦Q♣. The pot was big and Wang's hopes were high.But then the dealer started dealing.

The flop? A♣T♥J♣.

The turn? K♥.

The river? Q♠.

A chop worth 25K to Weis. --JS

10:05pm: Gruissem and Jaka continue to move at itLevel 8 - Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

When you're sat next to someone on the poker table it's nice to be polite and friendly, but there is no love lost if you find yourself both in a pot together. Phillip Gruissem and Faraz Jaka are positioned in Seat 5 and Seat 6 at their table and each time I walk past they appear to be gunning for one another.

In the newest battle the board read the A♣2♥J♣Q♣ and Gruissem led for 9,000. Jaka called at the button and when the 4♦ hit the turn the German shoved, putting Jaka's stack in peril. He had 21,500 behind and opted to fold.

As soon because the hand was over, though, the 2 were smiling and giggling again. --JS

10pm Antonius falls to SchillhabelLevel 7 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)

Stefan Schillhabel is as much as 98,000 after eliminating Patrik Antonius. Within the hand in question it was three to a Q♥T♥9♥ flop, Antonius bet 4,500, Pablo Melogno folded and Schillhabel smooth called. At the 4♦ turn Antonius committed his final 21,400 and after a couple of seconds thought Schillhabel called it off.

Antonius: A♥K♥Schillhabel: A♣Q♣

Antonius needed a heart a jack or a king to stick alive but missed the lot at the 4♠ river. --NW

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE
8 500 1,000 100

9:55pm Multi-tablingLevel 7 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)

Igor Kurgnaov is multi-tabling and multi-screening nowadays. That's because he's still a great deal alive on this event and he's also playing heads-up against Bill Perkins in his Global Poker League match.

It all means Kurganov has his laptop perched on his legs to play that match and he's also got his phone propped up so he can follow the action on Twitch, which has hole cards shown on delay.

9:35pm: That is getting silly...even more for Farrell!Level 7 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

You can now add another starting stack to Niall Farrell's count as he's now playing 208,000.

Georgios Sotiropoulos was the person who gave him the gift. Igor Yaroshevskyy opened to 2,000 before Sotiropoulos three-bet to 5,500 and Farrell four-bet to 11,600 at the button. Only Sotiropoulos called and the duo saw a 6♥J♠8♣ flop, which was checked to Farrell. The Scot continued for 8,400 and Sotiropoulos jammed for his last 26,000. Farrell snap-called and the cards were flipped:

Farrell - K♣K♥Sotiropoulos - 9♣7♣

Sotiropoulos had got it in with an open-ender but couldn't hit at the 2♦ turn or 7♠ river. He's gone, but Farrell now sits more comfortably on the top of the chip counts. --JS

9:15pm: Farrell increases his stackLevel 7 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)

Niall Farrell was the chip leader on the dinner break and he just won a large pot against Ahmed Fatah to transport as much as 170,000.

I joined the pot at the turn to look a 5♣K♠4♥Q♠ board at the felt. Farrell (under-the-gun+2) bet 10,000 right into a 17,000 chip pot and Fatah check-raised to 22,500 total. Farrell had a think after which elected to smooth call.

The 5♠ fell at the river and Fatah slowed down, checking the action to Farrell. The Scotsman riffled some chips for just a little after which moved all-in. The bet was for an efficient 29,000, as that is what Fatah, had left. He tanked for a very long time before laying his hand down.

Pot to Farrell. --NW

9:05pm: Stephensen doubles through GreenwoodLevel 7 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Sam Greenwood has made somewhat a slip up and it's cost him most of his stack. Felix Stephensen made it 2,000 to head at the button and Greenwood bumped that price as much as 6,500. Stephensen then came back excessive to 12,800 and Greenwood put him all-in, which the Norwegian snap-called.

He had the K♠K♦ and that was crushing Greenwood's 7♦7♥. After all the board showed the 6♦J♦2♥A♣5♣ and Stephensen is as much as 110,000, while Greenwood has just 12,700. --JS

8:55pm: Great dessert for GruissemLevel 7 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

He would possibly not has been capable of have a pudding after his dinner as a result of time constraints, but Phil Gruissem has had a sweet start back from the break.

On a 4♦J♠8♦ board he checked to Faraz Jaka who made it 5,000 to move. The German called and the turn came the T♦. Gruissem checked and Jaka put him all-in, followed by a snappy call.

Gruissem had turned a straight with the 9♥7♥ which was prior to the T♠T♣ set of Jaka. The river was the A♠ which failed to pair the board or provide quads, and Gruissem doubled to 56,600. Jaka is all the way down to 36,000. --JS

EPT12 grand final high roller day1 philipp gruissem.jpg

Good begin to the extent for Gruissem

8:52pm: Run!Level 7 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)

A collection of the high rollers were a marginally tardy in getting back from the dinner break and, when a floorperson announced that the extent was starting, this made several of them break right into a jog to achieve their table in time to receive cards.

We're used to poker players performing some runner-runnering but not actual sprinting. So the sight of Sam Greenwood and Stefan Schillhabel being enthusiastic about a race of a distinct kind was refreshing.

We've no idea in the event that they made it, but one player who definitely didn't was Ramin Hajiyev. The Azerbaijani had missed the hole hand but saw the dealer pitching cards for the second one and made a baseball style slide to take a look at and reach his seat in time to be dealt into the second one hand of the extent. He was given out. "Nice slide, commented Amit Makhija though as Hajiyev took his seat. To be fair to him he didn't seem in any respect bothered about having missed the hand. No less than he was now on the table, unlike Alain Goldberg who'd yet to return.

Meanwhile whilst some elected to install some cardio work to achieve their table as quickly as possible Jason Mercier and Patrik Antonius, who two of these who simply sauntered to their seats with out a care on the planet. --NW

8:50pm: Could or not it's? Can or not it's? It's! It's Kanit!Level 7 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Mustapha Kanit has joined the field, and that during itself deserves its own post. Expect to look his name so much going forward, because the popular Italian always provides excellent entertainment - irrespective of how high the tournament buy-in is. He's kicking off with 50,000. --JS

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE
7 400 800 75

7:30pm: Supper time big stacksThe high roller's entry number had risen to 165 by the point dinner break came to visit and 134 remain. They now take a 75 minute break. Meanwhile, listed here are the counts of these who've passed the 100k-mark so far:

Name Country Chips
Niall Farrell United Kingdom 150,000
Wilf Saar Israel 148,000
Andrey Pateychuk Russia 145,000
Thomas Muehloecker Austria 141,000
Marko Neumann Germany 133,000
Jean-Noel Thorel France 130,000
Rocco Palumbo Italy 128,000
Paul Hoefer Germany 128,000
David Dayan Brazil 124,000
Dong Zhao China 123,000
Yang Wang China 122,000
Xixiang Luo China 120,000
Steve O'Dwyer Ireland 117,000
Francisco Benitez Uruguay 115,000
Erik Seidel United States 110,000
Andrew Lichtenberger United States 104,000

eat12 grand final high roller day1 niall farrell.jpg

'Hey Mum, I'm chip leader'

7:15pm: Jacks no good for O'DwyerLevel 6 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

Steve O'Dwyer had dropped right down to 46,300 after tangling with fellow former EPT Grand Final champion Mohsin Charania.

O'Dywer opened to 2,200 from second to behave and was called by Charania at the button and Zvi Stern within the big blind. The flop came 7♦3♥Q♦ and O'Dwyer continued for 2,200. Only Charania called to the A♦ turn where O'Dyer fired another 4,500. Charania called again and the board got wetter with the 9♦ river. Both players checked and O'Dyer announced he had jacks with out a diamond. Charania's A♥Q♣ had that beat he raked within the pot to transport as much as 86,500. -- MC

7:05pm: Voulgaris busts, while Greenwood doublesLevel 6 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

Looking back on Haralabos Voulgaris' under-the-gun shove all-in for 12 big blinds with the J♥8♣, it will seem slightly inpatient. Then again, we're in the midst of the NBA finals, so perhaps the prolific basketball bettor had tape to study.

He was called by Mikita Badziakouski within the utg+1 seat who held the 9♣9♠. The board ran out 6♣2♥5♣7♥K♥ and it was an airball for Voulgaris. Badziakouski now has 82,500.

On another table, Luc Greenwood - one among three Greenwood brothers on this event - was busy doubling up through Ariel Mantel. The Argentinian opened under the gun before Greenwood three-bet to 4,000 at the button. Mantel then four-bet to 11,400, and Greenwood five-bet jammed for 40,750! Mantel called.

Mantel - Q♥Q♣Greenwood - K♦K♣

There was a sweat at the turn of the A♦T♦9♥J♦ board (Greenwood didn't wish to hit a set, that's evidently) however the river was the 4♣. Greenwood doubled to 82,000, while Mantel has 95,000 left. --JS

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7pm: Carrel's okay with losing 50kLevel 6 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

Charlie Carrel was sat at an empty table ordinarily tournament room, with the look of a person who has busted, albeit with a grin across his face.

PokerStars Blog, "Busted?"

Carrel, "Yeah, my second bullet too! I had a collection over straight in a three-bet pot but I'm okay with it on account of yesterday."

The yesterday Carrel is regarding is his victory within the €5k tournament last night. The win earned him €172,000 so life's still pretty good for the likable young pro. -- MC

epT12 grand final high roller day1 charlie carrel.jpg

You can't win all of them Charlie!

6:50pm: More foldingLevel 5 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)

They say that folding is, within the long run, essentially the most profitable move in poker. That does not will let you fold yourself to a tournament win though. There is a lot of folding happening - maybe it's just this blogger that's running bad. Maybe this post is the equivalent of folding.  

Sam Chartier opened to 1,200 and called after Ben Heath three-bet him to 4,600. The flop came 4♠3♥6♣ and both players to the 4♣ turn where Chartier led for 4,600. Heath called and faced anther 13,300 bet at the 2♦ river.

"If I'm wrong I'm really dumb," said Heath. He took another 30 seconds after which folded to drop to 38,000. Chartier moved as much as 51,000.  --MC

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE
6 300 600 75

6:35pm: More foldingLevel 5 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)

They say that folding is, within the long run, probably the most profitable move in poker. That does not can help you fold yourself to a tournament win though. There is a lot of folding occurring - maybe it's just this blogger that's running bad. Maybe this post is the equivalent of folding.  

Sam Chartier opened to 1,200 and called after Ben Heath three-bet him to 4,600. The flop came 4♠3♥6♣ and both players to the 4♣ turn where Chartier led for 4,600. Heath called and faced anther 13,300 bet at the 2♦ river.

"If I'm wrong I'm really dumb," said Heath. He took another 30 seconds after which folded to drop to 38,000. Chartier moved as much as 51,000.  --MC

6:20pm: Second and final bust for Buddiga; Tsoukernik's gone tooLevel 5 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)

It has not been an even day for Pratyush Buddiga. He's well and really out of this one after busting his second bullet after only some hands.

Yang Wang made it 1,300 under the gun and there have been three callers, including Sean Winter at the button and Mark Teltscher from the small blind. Buddiga was within the big and he put out a squeeze to 7,500, which only Wang would call.

We needed a flop and we got one: 6♦Q♦3♥. Both players checked and the K♥ hit the turn. Now Buddiga put out a delayed c-bet of 11,000 which Wang called, and moved all-in for 24,000 at the 4♦ river. He was called.

Buddiga - A♥K♣Wang - Q♣Q♠

Top pair wasn't going to overcome Wang's set of Queens anytime soon, and Buddiga went on his way.

Meanwhile at another table, Leon Tsoukernik has also busted his second bullet. --JS

6:05pm: Germans foldingLevel 5 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)

Fabian Quoss and Rainer Kempe folded hands on adjacent tables but in very different circumstances.

Quoss had three-bet to 4,500 from the button after Robert Crossley had opened to 1,500 from the hijack. Crossley called to the 5♥A♥3♣ flop and led for 12,000. Quoss open-folded K♣K♠ and his opponent nodded and flashed A-Q.

Moments later, Kempe and Zvi Stern battled. Stern opened to 1,025 after which four-bet to 7,025 after Kempe three-bet him to 2,850. Kempe called and both players checked a T♠9♦7♥ flop. The turn was the 3♦ and Stern led for 6,500. Kempe called after which check-folded to a 13,000 bet at the 2♣ river.

Crossley - 47,000Quoss - 42,000Stern - 80,000Kempe - 23,000--MC

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5:55pm: Muehloecker shoots up the chip countsLevel 5 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)

How does 260 big blinds sound? Pretty good to Thomas Muehloecker, who just eliminated Adnan Chamaa.

Chamaa began the hand with a raise, only to be three-bet by Muehloecker to 3,500. After the call, the flop came the J♦5♥T♥ and Muehloecker decided to not c-bet, instead check-calling a 6,000 bet. The Q♣ hit the turn and now Muehloecker check-raised the 9,000 bet from Chamaa to 22,000. The united kingdom player made the decision with 24,000 behind.

The river was the 3♥ and Muehloecker put Chamaa all-in, and that i guess by that time he felt pretty priced in. He called, but got the bad news quickly: his J♠J♣ set were pipped at the turn by Muehloecker's A♣K♦ for a straight. And prefer that, Chamaa was gone.

Muehloecker is now playing 130,000. --JS

eat12 grand final high roller day1 thomas muehloecker.jpg

Muehloecker's off to a perfect start

5:40pm: Buddiga busts brutallyLevel 5 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)

Yuck. Gross. Sick. All those words.

Yingui Li just put Patyush Buddiga all-in on a Q♥8♣6♦5♠ board with the J♣Q♣ and Buddiga snap-called with the A♦A♠.

The river was the J♠, giving Li two pair.

Buddiga swiftly went to re-enter, while Li now has 78,000. --JS

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE
5 250 500 50

5:11pm: Break time

Players at the moment are on a 20 minute break. Listed here are the present chip leaders:

Niall Farrell - 143,000Erik Seidel - 110,000Andrey Pateychuk - 110,000Xixiang Luo - 92,000

5:10pm: News in short: high roller editionLevel 4 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

-    Liv Boree won a small pot off Vladimir Troyanovskiy. They were heads as much as the turn with a board reading 2♠5♣A♣Q♠ and Troyanovskiy check-called a 3,500 bet before both checked the Q♠ river. Troyanovskiy opened 8♣8♠ but Boree took the pot with A♦K♣. She rose to 62,000 and he dropped to 25,000.

-    Dominik Nitsche has busted his first bullet but continues to be smiling. "IN FACT"! he answered when asked if he was buying back in. -    Jack Salter didn't a win a seat within the last satellite for the high roller today, but has bought in any respect. That satellite remains to be running and the prize pool is huge enough to award eight seats and €18,070 in cash for ninth. Sixteen still remain and people still in include Ludovic Geilich, Edmund Yeung, Matt Wood and Steven van Zadelhoff. --MC

5pm: Tsoukernik busts to Farrell; in for an additional bulletLevel 4 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Leon Tsoukernik played fast and furious today, but it's cost him his first €25K bullet.

Niall Farrell opened to 1,000 from at the button and Xixiang Luo bumped it as much as 2,600 out of the small blind. That intrigued Tsoukernik enough to make the decision from the large blind, and Farrell came along too.

The three saw a 6♥5♣K♦ flop fall and it checked around, prompting the dealer to burn and switch the 3♠. It checked to Tsoukernik and he made it 3,500 to go, and only Farrell matched it.

That brought the 4♦ at the river and Tsoukernik again led for 5,000. Farrell had something up his sleeve though - a raise to 22,000. Tsoukernik didn't appear to like it, but decided to transport all-in for 31,000. There wasn't exactly any fold equity there so Farrell had a very easy call, especially considering he had the 9♠7♦ and had made a straight at the river. Tsoukernik had the 5♠3♦ for two-pair but that wasn't good enough.

Farrell now has 141,000, while Tsoukernik has already re-entered. --JS

4:50pm: Are you picking on me?Level 4 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

That's exactly what Chance Kornuth asked Leonardo Cucchiarini after he opened from under the gun when Kornuth was within the big blind - presumably not the primary time this has happened.

The raise was 1,000 and it folded to David Dayan  in the small blind who came along, and Kornuth defended. The flop was the 2♠9♦6♦ and Cucchiarini continued for 2,000. Only Kornuth called to look the 5♦ hit the turn, and it went check-bet 2,800-call.

Both checked the 4♦ river, which put four diamonds available in the market. Kornuth showed the 8♣7♣ for a turned straight, however Cucchiarini had the J♦J♥ and won it with a flush. --JS

EPT12 grand final high roller day1 chance kornuth.jpg

Come on man!

4:40pm: Reinkemeier sings a Carrel of joyLevel 4 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Charlie Carrel may be disappointed to has been excited about a cooler within the blinds versus Tobias Reinkemeier, however the fact he wat the €5k last night for €172,000 means he'll probably be over losing it pretty quickly.

The action folded around to Jason Wheeler on the button and he raised it as much as 1,050. Carrel three-bet to 3,600 from the small blind after which Reinkemeier four-bet to 10,500 from the massive blind. Wheeler moved out of ways but Carrel had no such intentions - he moved all-in and Reinkemeier shrugged all called off for 40,700.

Reinkemeier: T♦T♠Carrel: A♣K♠

The board ran Q♦4♣9♥Q♥J♣ to peer the tens hold. Carrel dropped to 16,000 in consequence. --MC

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE
4 200 400 50

4:25pm: Chamaa using sports modeLevel 3 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

Monaco might be probably the most only places on this planet where an individual would wear the attire of a car they own. Adnan Chamaa has a Bugatti cap and bodywarmer on, so after penning this post, I'm off to seek across the car park in search of a Veyron.

Chamaa played a hand with Andrei Konopelko and got the Belarusian to fold at the turn by utilizing the over-bet function. It's identical to sport mode within the Veyron.

Around 12,500 lay within the middle and Chamaa led for 17,000 from the small blind. Konopelko went into the tank for a couple of minutes after which Chamaa piped up with, "I WILL BE ABLE TO permit you to should you ask me?"

"Call?" answered Konopelko.

Chamaa, "Good hand?" Konopelko nodded. "A COUPLE? Two pair?"

Konopelko decided to fold and he asked Chamaa to turn one. The latter obliged and opened A♣ while adding, "I shouldn't show but it's okay! Now. I showed you one so that you tell me considered one of your cards."

Konopelko said he had a queen. He lost the post but his stack remains to be worth 85,000. Chamaa moved up 42,000. -- MC

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4:10pm: Schemion makes good fold - or so he's toldLevel 3 - Blinds 150/300 (50 ante)

Here's the Luo down:

Xixiang Luo opened from the cut-off but was three-bet to 2,500 by Ole Schemion at the button. Luo then four-bet to 7,250 and the German came along for a flop.

Flop: It came the 2♣6♦8♥ and Luo bet 7,125. Schemion called.

Turn: T♣, Luo bet 13,200, Schemion called.

River: 8♠. Now Luo jammed for 29,225 and Schemion had a difficult decision on his hands. He thought for longer than he usually seems to take, and at last made a fold he didn't look too confident about.

"Good fold," said Luo, and he showed the A♥. "YOU'VE GOTTEN pocket Jacks?"

Schemion pointed upwards, indicating he had better.

"Queens?" Luo asked. Schemion nodded. "EXCELLENT fold."

I guess we'll never know if Luo was being honest. It doesn't actually matter now though - he's as much as  84,000 while Schemion is fooling around 30,000. --JS

4pm: Dominik Nitsche gets double QuossedLevel 3 - Blinds 150/300 (50 ante)

The two Germans on the table - Dominik Nitsche and 50K high roller winner Fabian Quoss - are really gunning for every other thus far today.

In the primary pot Nitsche made it 800 and both Adrian Mateos and Fabian Quoss called out of the blinds. The flop came the 2♣3♦Q♦ and it checked to Nitsche who continued for 1,800, only to be raised by Quoss to 5,000 when Mateos got out the way.

Nitsche would call though, and the 2♦ hit the turn for three-to-a-flush on board. Quoss led for 6,500 and Nitsche let it go.

Just a few hands later they'd be at it again. Quoss opened to 800 at the button and Nitsche three-bet to 3,000 after Ariel Mantel called from the small blind. Quoss then four-bet to 7,400 and Nitsche again needed to fold.

Nitsche is all the way down to around 17,000 while Quoss has around 60,000. --JS

3:45pm: Seidel soaringLevel 3 - Blinds 150/300 (50 ante)

Erik Seidel had almost doubled his starting stack already after eliminating Raouf Ibrahim. It need to be something to do with the super-food salad he was eating all over the hand.

Ibrahim opened to 800 from first position before Ollie Price three-bet to 3,000 from the following seat and Silver four-bet 5,200 from the cutoff. Seidel, sat within the small blind, casualty rested his wooden fork inside his salad container and five-bet to 12,500. Ibrahim called, Price folded quickly and Silver took longer in folding.

The flop fell 4♦8♦J♦ and Seidel bet 11,000 and called after Ibrahim raised all-in for 22,700. "I AM HOPING you do not have the diamonds" said Seidel.

Ibrahim: T♦T♦ for an over pair and one diamond.Seidel: K♦K♠ for a larger over pair and larger flush draw.

The board ran out 3♦4♣ and Ibrahim (genuinely) tanked Seidel and the opposite before departing. Silver said he had folded queens. --MC

3:30pm: Tsoukernik misreads the situationLevel 3 - Blinds 150/300 (50 ante)

Czech entrepreneur and casino owner Leon Tsoukernik isn't any stranger to high stakes tournament action. The giant buy-ins don't mean all that much to this sort of successful guy.

He just proved this in a hand against Sam Greenwood that will see the professional double up. Greenwood made it 750 and Tsoukernik three-bet to 3,000 from the massive blind. Greenwood then moved all-in.

Tsoukernik asked how much it was for and the solution was "99." Thing is, we came upon after the hand that Tsoukernik thought that meant 99,000 - not 9,900 which was the reality.

"Can we re-buy on this event?" he asked, before making an emphatic call when he was told he could. He had just the A♥J♣. And he made the decision thinking the shove was for double the starting stack!

Greenwood had the K♠K♥ and was ahead, but by the activate the 4♦2♣5♥J♥ board Tsoukernik had outs. Any Ace, Jack or three would win it for him, but it surely came the K♦ and Greenwood doubled, while Tsoukernik has around 30,000 left. --JS

3:20pm: Philbort wants a rule changeLevel 3 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

Philip Gruissem wants a while back and a rule change after he hung out closely watching a hand play out, just for no cards to be shown on showdown.

Faraz Jaka had opened from under the gun and was called by Yaxi Zhu within the small blind. Both checked the A♥4♥Q♠ flop before Zhu check-called 2,400 and 5,200 at the 6♠5♦ turn and river. Jaka mucked his hand to drop to 34,525 whereas Zhu got back as much as 41,000.

"Stupid rule," said Gruissem. "He mucked [points at Jaka], she mucked [points at Zhu] and that i watched the entire f***ing hand and didn't get to look any cards!"

There are 115 entries, the most recent being Anthony Spinella, who looked as if it would me meditating while awaiting his seating assignment. --MC

3pm: Thorel doubles through HolzLevel 3 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

A two-man pre-flop betting war ended in a four-bet to 4,300 from Fedor Holz and a shove all-in from Jean-Noel Thorel for 30,000. Holz thought for over a minute but eventually made the decision with the J♠J♥. It was no good, as Thorel had the products along with his K♠K♥.

The board ran out Q♠K♦4♣7♥6♠ and Thorel moved as much as 60,000 with top set. Holz is all the way down to 30,000. --JS

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE
3 150 300 50
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2:40pm: Break time

Players at the moment are on a 20 minute break

2:36pm: Yang Wang, thanks SamLevel 2 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Sam Greenwood have been left short after doubling up Yang Wang. Ole Schemion started the hand off with an open to 600 and Wang called within the cut-off, before Greenwood three-bet to 2,000 at the button. Both called.

A 5♥T♥K♠ flop hit the felt and it checked to Greenwood, who continued for 4,500. Schemion gave it up but Wang raised it as much as 11,000. Greenwood called to look the Q♠ turn, and Wang continued to carry directly to the betting lead with an 18,000 wager, but Greenwood went nowhere. The 8♠ completed the board and Wang moved all-in for 25,000 exactly.

Greenwood was deep in thought and his process led him to creating the decision along with his A♠A♦. That wasn't the winner though; Wang had the J♠8♠, so had check-raised the flop with nothing, semi-bluffed the turn along with his many draws, after which got paid when he hit. He's as much as 101,000, while Greenwood is right down to 12,000. --JS

2:35pm: Re-entries and lucky sevensLevel 2 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Mikita Badziakouski and Isaac Haxton wasted little time in buying back in for his or her one second-chance.

Orpen Kisacikoglu is in no danger of shopping for back in as he won a pot off Sam Chartier to rise to 75,000. The Canadian, who busted the primary event late yesterday, raised from the cutoff, bet 900 at the flop and 1,900 at the turn. Kisacikoglu stuck with him all of the way from the small blind and both checked the river when the board read 4♦K♠2♣5♥K♥. Kisacikoglu opened 7♣7♠ and Chertier mucked to drop to 34,000. --MC

2:25pm: Two gone already and Zhu halvedLevel 2 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Isaac Haxton was the primary player out and he soon joined at the rail by Mikhail Korotkikh. Despite her great start, Yaxi Zhu's woes have continued. She's right down to 26,000 after raise-folding at the river versus Dietrich Fast.

Around 10,000 sat within the middle by the point the board rested as 9♠9♣4♣7♦A♠. Fast bet 3,800 from under the gun and was check-raised to 12,000 by Zhu within the big blind. Fast shoved and Zhu went into the tank. She went from a confused look, to a pained one and back to confused. She decided to fold. -- MC

2:20pm: Schemion's Aces an excessive amount of for ChidwickLevel 2 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

I'm just going to mention it now: if Ole Schemion comes first or second on this tournament, then I BELIEVE it's safe to mention the person isn't human. If he manages a top-two finish in his third high roller in little over one week, he should be some more or less highly-advanced poker bot dressed as much as appear to be a 23-year-old wunderkind.

He's off to an excellent start here as usual, having just taken down a pot against Stephen Chidwick. Schemion opened to 625,000 which Chidwick then three-bet to 3,000 out of the massive blind. Schemion four-bet to 8,625 and Chidwick called.

The flop was the J♦3♣J♠ and Chidwick checked to the last aggressor. Schemion continued for 6,000 which was called, so we saw the K♠ hit the turn. Both checked.

They'd also both check the 6♦ and Schemion turned over the A♠A♦. After Chidwick mucked he dropped to 40,000, while the poker bot - sorry, I mean Ole Schemion moves as much as 75,000. --JS

2:15pm: McDonald's FastLevel 2 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

After an open to 450 (from a player so new to the tournament that i am yet to clock his name), Leonardo Cucchiarini made the decision. The action was then on Mike McDonald who three-bet to 1,800, only to run right into a four-bet from Dietrich Fast to 4,800. McDonald was the one caller.

The pair saw a 9♣7♥2♠ flop fall and play bogged down with both checking. The A♥ was a fascinating turn card; Fast opted to test again and McDonald put out a chance of 6,000 which was called.

The 4♣ landed at the river and both Fast and McDonald shut it down. Fast flipped over his A♦6♦ and the Ace was enough for the win. He's as much as 60,000 now while McDonald has slipped to 38,000. --JS

2:10pm: Patrick Bruel - a person of many talentsLevel 2 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

One of France's most renowned singers; an actor; a commentator; and a poker player with a WSOP bracelet and greater than $1.5 million in live earnings. Shall we only be talking about Patrick Bruel.

He's within the field for today's 25K and is bound to make some noise (even if he'll sing is a unique question). --JS

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE
2 100 200 25

1:40pm: Thorel getting shortLevel 1 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

As the primary level draws to a close, 79 players have taken their seats. That number will soon be three figures though as a glance on the long(ish) registration line indicates we'll be seeing many new face soon.

Don't forget that it is a re-entry event so we'll be seeing a few of these faces twice today and/or tomorrow. Jean-Noel Thorel is in peril of changing into the primary casualty, he's all the way down to 9,000 after folding at the river to Stephen Chidwick.

The Brit, whose recently engaged (congrats!) opened to 500 from first to behave and was called in three spots. The flop fanned A♦2♥7♦ and Chidwick continued for 1,500. Only Thorel called to the 6♠ turn where he quickly called off another 3,000. The board completed with the 4♣ and Chidwick bet 2,500. Thorel gave the look of he was going to lift but ended up folding. --MC

1:35pm: Farrell finds his feetLevel 1 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Niall Farrell, who finished second within the France Poker Series main event earlier within the festival, is already as much as 75,000 after only a few hands. On an 8♠A♦K♣9♦7♣ board the Scot put out a raffle of 13,000 with the A♣9♥ and Brazil's David Dayan called before mucking. --JS

1:25pm: Zhu's good start over

Yaxi Zhu has dropped back to below her starting stack after running right into a full house belonging to Alexandros Kolonias.

Ivan Deyra opened from under the gun and was called by the Team Pro at the button and Kolonias within the big blind. All three checked the 7♠T♣8♣ flop before Deyra led for 1,500 at the T♥ turn. Zhu called but Kolonias check-raised to 7,000. Only Zhu called to the 6♦ river where she tank-called 15,000. Kolonias opened 8♠8♦ and Zhu mucked. --MC

1:20pm: Timokhin came here to playLevel 1 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Russia's Alexander Timokhin won his seat into this event in a live satellite, and thus far he's been super aggressive. Take hand this for instance; pre-flop he installed a chilly four-bet to 5,200 and Kully Sidhu was the one caller. The flop came J♣4♥J♦ and he instantly led out for 15,000 - greater than the pot. The massive blind is solely 200!

It's going to be interesting watching him against the professionals today. --JS

1:10pm: Good start for the Team ProLevel 1 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

In tournament poker, it's now the way you start but the way you finish that counts. That being said, it's still pretty nice to hit the bottom running.

That's exactly what Team Pro Yaxi Zhu has done. On a 3♣2♥T♠ flop, Roman Emelyanov checked to her and she or he bet 1,500 which got a decision. The turn was the A♥ and Emelyanov checked once more, before calling another bet of 2,800. He'd also check the 4♦ river before calling a last 6,000 bet. Zhu flipped over her A♦K♣ and top pair was good for the win. She has 61,000 now. --JS

1:05pm: A COUPLE OF more namesLevel 1 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Timothy Adams, Vladimir Troyanovskiy, and Haralabos Voulgaris have all taken their seats. Meanwhile, Niall Farrell, Luc Greenwood, Mike McDonald, Justin Bonomo, Faraz Jaka, and Thomas Muehloecker are all waiting to register. --JS

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1pm: Short-handed play all roundLevel 1 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Play is also underway but many tables still only have three to four players at them. Team PokerStars Pro Yaxi Zhu tried to sit down on the wrong table before being sent the precise way; Timothy Adams had no such problems; and Artem Metalidi said hi as he joined Dietrich Fast and Emil Patel's table.

These latter three then played out a pot together. Fast opened to 450 and was called by Patel (button) and Metalidi (big blind). All three checked the 7♦2♥Q♠ flop before Fast bet 750 at the 2♦ turn. Metalidi hung around to the 8♣ river but had no interest in calling Fast's 2,200 bet. --MC

12:50pm: New arrivalsLevel 1 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

There's still just a handful of players of their seats, now including Francisco Benitez, Orpen Kisacikoglu, and Dietrich Fast. Isaac Haxton, Stephen Chidwick, and Daniel Dvoress are all in line to register at the moment. --JS

12:40pm: Seems like a slow startLevel 1 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Poker players aren't great timekeepers, and the high rollers will also be the worst offenders. With a few minutes to head until play kicks off, only seven players had turned up; Saar Wilf, Paul Newey and Ole Schemion being three of them.

Walking back throughout the overflow room, you can actually see 56 players (up to now) within the last-chance satellite. With the intention to be enough to generate sevens seats and a cash prize. Tournament registration may be located in that room with Adrian Mateos, Segio Aido and Jean-Noel Thorel all lined up waiting to shop for in. -- MC

12:15pm: Registered so far

Play begins in about QUARTER-HOUR for now. To this point the next players have registered: Rocco Palumbo, Steffen Sontheimer, Vladimir Troyanovskiy, Kully Sidhu, Sam Greenwood, Haralabos Voulgaris, and Paul Newey. 

11am: The €25K EPT High Roller starts today

It's the last of the massive events on this festival yet to start out however the EPT High Roller kicks off in lower than an hour. We'll be following all of the action here with live updates. Play starts at 12.30pm -- SB

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Take a glance on the official website of the EPT, with tournament schedule, news and results.

Also the entire schedule information is at the EPT App, that is available on both Android or IOS.

PokerStars Blog reporting team at the EPT12 Grand Final main event: Stephen Bartley, Marc Convey and Jack Stanton. Photography by Rene Velli. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter: @PokerStarsBlog



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