From a 3,447-player field -- the most important in tour history -- a still-large group of 862 returned for today's Day 2 of the ESPT Barcelona Main Event. Now slightly below 100 players remain, each still with a possibility to say the trophy on Monday.
Of that group, Jerome Brion of France is currently positioned most favorably going forward, having managed to complete today bagging up a stack of 2,468,000.
Jerome Brion
Following a late surge Louis Salter bagged up the next-most impressive stack with 2,247,000.
Louis Salter
Also near the highest of the counts, Nick Mertens wrote a fair 2 million on his bag (even though he could be somewhat above or below), while Michael Rocco (1,997,000) and Ongun Yagci (1,992,000) also earned spots near the highest overnight.
Nick Mertens
There numerous other familiar folks among those surviving to Saturday, among them Christopher Frank (1,250,000), Rodrigo Strong (1,192,000), Lucas Greenwood (1,075,000), Chris Moorman (918,000), Scott Margereson (657,000), Steven van Zadelhoff (445,000), and Joao Vieira (298,000).
Things hurried early on today, and throughout the second level of the day the money bubble burst when three players went out at the same hand during hand-for-hand play, the last of whom was Daniel Gecer finishing in 696th.
Once within the money the pace of knockouts accelerated even further -- take a look at our comprehensive live updates within the day slightly below. Cashers today included Arnaud Mattern (140th), Govert Metaal (147th), Fernando Pons (164th), Jannick Wrang (243rd), Luciana Manolea (317th), Sebastian Pauli (370th), Benny Glaser (371st), Andrey Pateychuk (376th), Luca Moschitta (420th), Jonathan Karamalikis (476th), Jonathan Westmorland (513th), Vitaly Lunkin (623rd), Team PokerStars Pro George Danzer (633rd), Erwann Pecheux (675th), and Ricardo Chauriye (690th).
Click here for an entire list of counts for all 97 players returning for Day 3, and click on here for a whole list of the payouts thus far.
The next group of cashers may be tripling their buy-in, but everyone's eyeing the five-figure prizes bound to those making the highest 27, the six-figure ones for the highest six, and that vast €423,600 return on a €1,100 investment up top.
Play begins tomorrow at 12 noon local time. Join us again then as we continue to determine together who becomes the following ESPT Main Event champion. Until then, buenas noches! --MH
9:59pm: Day 2 concludes
They're done for Day 2, and it appears Jerome Brion pushed sooner than everyone to assert the overnight chip lead. Back in a couple of to wrap up the day. --MH
9:50pm: Three more handsLevel 22: Blinds 10,000/20,000, Ante 3,000
One, two, three... then the luggage. --MH
9:45pm: Vieira's very shortLevel 22: Blinds 10,000/20,000, Ante 3,000
After his 47,000 open was raised to 120,000 by Scott Margereson, Joao Vieira was forced to fold.
He's very short presently with just 270,000 left. Will he hold on until to Day 3? Will he bust? Or will he double and provides himself some breathing room?
FIND OUT AFTER THE INDUSTRIAL BREAK!
Just kidding. We'll inform you in about 10 minutes. --JS
9:42pm: Andreu wins a race to stick aliveLevel 22: Blinds 10,000/20,000, Ante 3,000
The standard open at this level seems to be 45,000 and that is what Scott Margereson raised to when the action folded to him. Javier Andreu then bumped the cost of poker as much as 186,000 as he moved all-in. When it folded back to Margereson, he tanked before calling off the difference.
Margereson: K♥J♦Andreu: T♠T♣
A A♠2♥7♠4♦A♣ board meant Andreu doubled up, while Margereson slips to 1,050,000. --NW
9:36pm: The Salter showLevel 22: Blinds 10,000/20,000, Ante 3,000
It's all about Louis Salter presently as he just played three all-in pots in a row.
In the primary he cracked Tom Ovesen's pocket kings with A♥J♣ when he turned an ace. Ovesen had about 300,000 and it all was assimilated into Salter's stack to take him to around 2,200,000.
His next victim was Daniel Belov who three-bet shoved for approximately 90,000 with Q♣J♣ and Salter, who'd already raised, installed the additional with A♦J♥. All over again it proved to be the winning hand because the 6♥T♥6♠A♠3♥ board only strengthened his hand.
So could he complete the hat-trick?
He opened to 45,000 with A♦K♦ and Karim Alleg jammed for 324,000 with pocket jacks. When it folded back to Salter he made the decision and Alleg feared the more serious. The 5♦T♥T♣5♣4♠ board stayed clean, though, and Salter is go into reverse to around 2,000,000. --NW
Salter surging
9:28pm: Lovgren out after running queens into Mertens's acesLevel 22: Blinds 10,000/20,000, Ante 3,000
Soon after being seated at her new table, Sofia Lovgren found herself in a three-way hand which ultimately saw herself all-in and Nick Mertens betting the player in between them out of the way.
Lovgren tabled Q♣Q♥ but unfortunately for her had run into the A♠A♥ of Mertens. The board then brought all low cards -- 4♠2♥4♦7♠7♣ -- and he or she wished the table good luck before departing.
Less than 120 players remain now, with Mertens currently sitting on a large stack of 1.75 million. --MH
Lovgren leaves
9:20pm: Margereson's at it, tooLevel 22: Blinds 10,000/20,000, Ante 3,000
Just like Chris Moorman, Scott Margereson have been moved tables and likewise raised from under the gun pretty early into his new seat tenure. He'd need to give it up after a raise and a jam, but still sits with with reference to 900,000. --JS
9:17pm: They've split upLevel 22: Blinds 10,000/20,000, Ante 3,000
It took eight whole hours and 8 entire levels, but Chris Moorman and Sofia Lovgren have broken up their big-stack corner. Well, it wasn't really their decision - their table broke.
Moorman went to his new table and immediately opened from the under the gun to 45,000. However he'd give it up within the face of a 350,000 shove from the massive blind.
Lovgren however is yet to behave on her new table. Who wants "the over" on two hands before she restarts her raising ways? --JS
9:11pm: Smaller field, big namesLevel 22: Blinds 10,000/20,000, Ante 3,000
From a start of day 862, because the final level starts this field have been whittled all the way down to just 120. There are lots of superstar players left in, including the following:
Lucas Greenwood - 1,025,000Chris Moorman - 830,000Steven van Zadelhoff - 660,000Christopher Frank - 590,000Sofia Lovgren - 415,000Joao Vieira - 260,000Quan Zhou - 220,000Michael Eiler - 184,000
Christopher Frank
| 22 | 10000 | 20000 | 3000 |
8:46pm: Last break of the night
Another 20-minute break has arrived. A reminder -- the plan is now only to play yet one more 60-minute level after which call it an evening. --MH
8:44pm: Getting StrongerLevel 21: Blinds 8,000/16,000, Ante 2,000
LAPT9 Chile champ and UKIPT6 Marbella third-place finisher Rodrigo Strong continues to be alive and kicking on this one. The Brazilian just added a bit of to chip stack right before the break.
He opened to 32,000 and Ondrej Vinklarek called from the massive blind. The pair saw the dealer spread an 8♦9♥Q♥ flop which they'd both check, taking us to the 6♥ turn. Vinklarek took a shot with a 41,000 bet, but Strong came along and saw the 3♣ river. Vinklarek bogged down again by checking which let Strong in to bet 85,000. The strong bet got Vinklarek to fold and Rodrigo raked within the pot.
Strong now has 620,000, while Vinklarek sits with 510,000. --JS
Rodrigo Strong
8:39pm: Huge double for UnsalLevel 21: Blinds 8,000/16,000, Ante 2,000
Onur Unsal is as much as around 1,000,000 after doubling through Gregory Armand.
It all went in preflop with Unsal holding K♥K♦ and Armand pocket jacks. A 3♥3♣8♣A♦3♠ board gave both a full-house, but Unsal's was better. He doubled, while Armand drops to 106,000. --NW
8:32pm: Newport building a stackLevel 21: Blinds 8,000/16,000, Ante 2,000
Nick Newport have been absent from the eu poker scene for a few years, but he's made the trip to Barcelona and, so far, it's paying off. He started the day with an above average 178,500, but has spent most of the day grinding out a stack. However, he just won a pot against Said Sadallah to again climb above the average.
I picked up the action on a Q♠4♠Q♣ flop on which Newport check-called a raffle of 34,000. The 3♣ turn checked through and the J♦ completed the board. Newport fired out 88,000 and Sadallah quickly flicked in a chip to suggest a decision. Newport rolled over A♦J♥ and he's as much as around 775,000.
He's not the one Irishman left in as we've also spotted Dan Wilson -- he's got roughly 270,000 at this point. --NW
8:29pm: Sweet for SalterLevel 21: Blinds 8,000/16,000, Ante 2,000
While his brother Jack is over at the side of the room playing within the €50K Super High Roller, Louis Salter is doing a little super high rolling of his own here within the ESPT7 Barcelona Main Event. He's currently sitting with 2.2 million in chips, which can really well give him the chip lead right now.
The latest hand that helped him reach that plateau was against the USA's Dejuante Alexander. On a K♦9♣5♣ flop, Alexander checked and Salter made it 42,000 to play. That bet was called and the end result was the K♣ at the turn. Both decided to test to peer the 8♥ river, and Alexander stepped up his aggression with a 95,000 stab.
Salter made the decision pretty quickly, and was right. His A♠9♠ for a couple of nines was best as Alexander just had Q♠T♠ for a busted gutshot. --JS
Louis a-Salter-ing the chip lead
8:22pm: Playing in TunezLevel 21: Blinds 8,000/16,000, Ante 2,000
Lorenz Huber's ESPT Main Event run has come to an end after losing the last of his short stack to Gonzalo Tunez. All-in with A♥7♣ versus Tunez who had A♦Q♥. There has been still hope after the K♥6♣4♦ flop, however the Q♣ turn sealed it in favor of Tunez and Huber hit the rail.
That's not the primary knockout we've reported Tunez delivering today. He's as much as 1.42 million now. --MH
8:12pm: Vold vanquished by VirgilioLevel 21: Blinds 8,000/16,000, Ante 2,000
In a battle of the "V's" just one would be the victor and it was Virgilio Di Cicco who got the simpler of Egil Vold.
The latter shoved for 206,000 with pocket tens and Di Cicco reraised all-in for around 300,000 with A♠Q♦. The J♥2♣6♣8♠Q♠ board was cruel for Vold, who like many before him succumbed at the river. --NW
8:09pm: Change of plansLevel 21: Blinds 8,000/16,000, Ante 2,000
With the pace of knockouts going as they have, it has been decided to finish play a degree sooner than planned, meaning they'll only be playing nine as opposed to 10 today. That implies yet another one-hour level after the existing one. --MH
8:01pm: Dolezal the donLevel 21: Blinds 8,000/16,000, Ante 2,000
As Level 21 got underway, Thomas Dolezal was busy stacking a large 'ol pile of chips. When he'd finished stacking them it gave the look of he had right around 1,450,000. He's one of, if not the, chip leader at this stage. --NW
7:58pm: No slick trick for MetaalLevel 20: Blinds 6,000/12,000, Ante 2,000
It's all well and good getting big hands, but winning pots with them is another matter entirely.
Just ask Govert Metaal. He opened to 25,000 and called after Roberto Canali had three-bet to 60,000. At the Q♥7♦7♥ flop Metaal check-folded to a c-bet of 45,000. As he did so he showed A♠K♠ and said, "Five times today and nothing." --NW
7:51pm: Genoud must have called; Rosadoni's glad he didn'tLevel 21: Blinds 8,000/16,000, Ante 2,000
Stanislav Ivanov moved all-in for around 100,000 and it folded to Giovanni Rosadoni at the button. He made the call, which Robert Genoud didn't like an excessive amount of. It gave him a difficult decision -- as though suggesting he desired to be the one that called the all-in -- yet he wasn't trying to play a side-pot.
He'd give it up after a few minutes and the cards were flipped: A♠J♣ for Rosadini and K♦K♥ for Ivanov, the player in danger. The kings looked good right up until the dealer spread the 3♥A♥2♦ flop.
"Nooo!" said Genoud, announcing he would have hit a collection of threes.
Oh well, Genoud -- it wasn't meant to be, something Ivanov knows so much about as a King did not fall at the turn or river. --JS
| 21 | 8000 | 16000 | 2000 |
7:38pm: Hold... hold... FMLLevel 20: Blinds 6,000/12,000, Ante 2,000
Vincent Gabel was chatty and sociable much of the afternoon, helping add to the positive vibe at his table. The Belgian's run just ended around 170th place, although he managed to supply the table another laugh before he departed.
After pushing all-in for his last 84,000 from middle position, Gabel watched Steven van Zadelhoff call from the button, and after some thought the blinds eventually get out.
Gabel showed A♣Q♣ and van Zadelhoff T♠T♣, and in a rather sing-songy voice Gabel said "one time" because the dealer moved to deal the primary the community cards.
There was an ace among them, the flop coming 6♠7♥A♦, and in a rhythmic fashion Gabel continued to talk.
"Hold... hold... hold," he said because the 6♣ turn appeared.
"Hold... hold... f*@$ my life," he continued, not changing his tone just a little because the T♦ landed at the river.
The table laughed. "Good luck guys," sang Gabel as he left. Now van Zadelhoff has about 790,000. --MH
7:37pm: Govert Metaal survivesLevel 20: Blinds 6,000/12,000, Ante 2,000
Down to only 174,000, Govert Metaal moved all-in from the button and Gregory Armand then started to tank. He counted out the 168,000 extra that he had to match Metaal's shove and set it to at least one side.
The Frenchman then counted the remainder of his stack, which amounted to roughly 78,000. "AM I ABLE TO break out from this?" he said to himself greater than anyone else, before turning to Metaal and saying: "WOULD YOU LIKE a decision? Give me a hint!"
Around 20 seconds passed and Armand added: "I DO KNOW I'VE you beat is all!" It was this statement that tipped the balance and it caused a tablemate to name the clock.
A floorperson arrived, announced the standard rules and regulations about having 60 seconds to determine and Armand then stood as much as make his decision. He'd taken 25-30 seconds of his minute before he moved all-in. The large blind folded and it was time for showdown:
Metaal: A♥5♣Armand: 8♣8♠
"Keep it low," said Armand because the dealer prepared to run the board. He didn't get his wish because the A♠5♦7♦T♠T♥ board improved made Metaal the winner. "F*@$ me, Jesus Christ," said Armand as he retook his seat when the hand was over. --NW
7:31pm: Rusinovas gets one over on LovgrenLevel 20: Blinds 6,000/12,000, Ante 2,000
It's the primary hit we have seen Sofia Lovgren take for a while, but I SUPPOSE it needed to happen at some point.
She made an under-the-gun raise to 26,000 and it folded to Miguel Seoane at the button who called. Aleksandras Rusinovas was within the big blind and he desired to play a little bit higher; say... 83,000?
Well, that did not faze Lovgren much. She pulled back her initial raise and counted out tons of more, which was a four-bet to 180,000. Seoane wanted no a part of it and got the heck out of how. But Rusinovas didn't budge -- instead, he shoved.
It was for around 600,000 total, but we never got a precise count because Lovgren folded too quickly. She's all the way down to 580,000 now. --JS
7:30pm: Eiler elevatingLevel 20: Blinds 6,000/12,000, Ante 2,000
As noted in that list of huge stacks below, Michael Eiler has done well today, pushing his stack up over 800,000 thus far. The EPT7 Vienna Main Event champion has collected cashes here at this EPT/ESPT Barcelona stop all of the last five years (including this one), and once went as deep as 16th within the ESPT Main Event (in 2012). --MH
Michael Eiler
7:24pm: Bad news for BenLevel 20: Blinds 6,000/12,000, Ante 2,000
Ben Zech was left shaking his head after he doubled up Dragoljub Martinovic in a hand where he was an important favorite. Martinovic was all-in for his final 215,000 with A♠Q♣ and Zech had him crushed with A♦K♦.
The Q♦4♦8♣ flop favored Martinvoic, though, and he hung on the 2♥ turn and T♥ river. He's as much as around 460,000 whilst Zech drops to 380,000. --NW
7:19pm: Kotelnikov pushes off VieiraLevel 20: Blinds 6,000/12,000, Ante 2,000
Joao Vieria opened to 27,000 under the gun and action folded to Russia's Andrey Kotelnikov in mid-position. He carefully counted out some chips, eventually sliding out a three-bet to 70,000. That wasn't enough to get Vieira off just yet though, as he came along to the flop.
The dealer fanned the primary three community cards -- A♦T♠4♦ -- and it was checked to the Russian. He continued, this time for somewhat less, 60,000. Again Vieira matched it.
The battle would end at the 6♣ turn, however, as Kotelnikov jammed after Vieira checked over again. It was an excessive amount of for the Portuguese player, who folded instantly.
Vieira now has slipped to 575,000, while Kotelnikov is gaining on him with 520,000. --JS
7:15pm: Your chip leadersLevel 20: Blinds 6,000/12,000, Ante 2,000
A scan of the nearly 200 players left reveals various players with stacks north of the 800,000-chip mark. Here is a list of them all, showing Johan Jakobsson enjoying the chip lead as Level 20 continues. --MH
Johan Jakobsson - 1,290,000Jose Maria Gallegos Tortosa - 1,250,000Elrik Steinsto - 1,230,000Fabian Deimann - 1,080,000Gabor Szabo - 1,040,000Roberto Canali - 995,000Chris Moorman - 985,000Christian Jeppsson - 975,000Ruben Nils Pleijster - 975,000Luc Greenwood - 960,000Carlo Savinelli - 940,000Frederic Antoine Leonetti - 915,000Jasper Van Moorsel - 900,000Michael Eiler - 855,000Francois Evard - 835,000Joao Vieira - 800,000
Johan Jakobsson leading the way
6:58pm: More cashersLevel 20: Blinds 6,000/12,000, Ante 2,000
Reaching back in the course of the bustouts to share a couple of names of these who've left us over the past couple of hours, we see Stefan Jedlicka (213th), Pascal Vos (240th), Jannick Wrang (243rd), Darryll Fish (302nd), Hilal Merabet (323rd), Dylan Wilkerson (367th), Ben Warrington (434th), and Per Linde (494th) all some of the throng at the rail. --MH
6:51pm: Not up to 200Level 20: Blinds 6,000/12,000, Ante 2,000
Players are back and cards are within the air another time. The massive board says there are 198 of them left. The schedule requires them to play four more one-hour levels before Day 2 could be done. --MH
| 20 | 6000 | 12000 | 2000 |
6:30pm: Break time
Players are off again on a 20-minute break. --MH
6:29pm: Margereson keeps on moving upLevel 19: Blinds 5,000/10,000, Ante 1,000
The man referred to as "Aggro Santos" hasn't bogged down since we last caught up with him. Scott Margereson is as much as 800,000 now, his most up-to-date win coming from a hand against Robert Giordano.
Margereson opened to 22,000 at the button, and Giordano called from the small ignorant of see a 3♥6♠7♠ flop hit the felt. It checked to the raiser and he continued for 25,000, which was enough to take it down. --JS
6:27pm: Four millionairesLevel 19: Blinds 5,000/10,000, Ante 1,000
From a scan of the room it seems like now we have four players who tip over the only million chip mark at the moment. Those players are Johan Jakobsson, Chris Moorman, Fabian Deimann, and the aforementioned Bartosz Solarczyk. --JS
Add Moorman to the milly list
6:15pm: Lorca loses to AlexanderLevel 19: Blinds 5,000/10,000, Ante 1,000
Jesus Medin Lorca was all-in before the flop and for a moment it seemed as if the frenzy of his chips was going to get through, but sitting next to him was Dejuante Alexander who found a call.
Lorca showed T♦T♥, and his tentative grin turned to chagrin when he saw Alexander's K♠K♣. The board came 2♠A♠3♥5♣7♠, and Lorca is out. Alexander meanwhile is up around 525,000. --MH
6:10pm: Stacks of chipsLevel 19: Blinds 5,000/10,000, Ante 1,000
The average stack is a tick under 400,000 these days. Here's how one of the crucial names and notables are faring against that baseline number:
Bartosz Solarczyk - 1,025,000Chris Moorman - 960,000Lucas Greenwood - 850,000Steven van Zadelhoff - 740,000Rodrigo Strong - 730,000Sofia Lovgren - 630,000Louis Salter - 610,000Quan Zhou - 420,000Arnaud Mattern - 390,000Joao Vieira - 367,000Govert Metaal - 290,000Dan Wilson - 230,000
6:04pm: The shark -- From one generation to the nextLevel 19: Blinds 5,000/10,000, Ante 1,000
"How are you able to not know Humberto Brenes?"
Vincent Gabel was shocked. You see, Marek Grześka had just copied -- or "ripped off," as we are saying within the UK -- Brenes' signature move: the all-in shark.
Vincent Gabel (left) and Marek Grześka (right)
Grześka opened to 22,000, Johan Jakobsson raised to 50,000, and Grześka then shoved. But in preference to announcing it verbally or along with his chips (okay, he will have whispered it), the young player instead moved his toy shark into the center of the felt. That got Jakobsson to fold.
After the hand, Gabel asked Grześka if he was conscious about Brenes, and couldn't believe the solution -- the young'n had never heard of him.
"You see, Steven?" Gabel said to fellow tablemate Steven Van Zadelhoff. "THAT IS THE difference between our generations!"
"I know who Brenes is, don't lump us all in together!" replied the bearded Dutchman.
For the following minute or two Gabel then did his best Brenes impression. It involved saying "Shark! SHARRRRRK!" so much. --JS
Grześka and shark. N.B.: Any resemblance to Costa Rican sharks or actual sharks is solely coincidental
5:55pm: Holland over BelgiumLevel 19: Blinds 5,000/10,000, Ante 1,000
It was a battle of huge pairs and Benelux nations as Teunis Kooij (Netherlands, aces) and Jorden Verbraeken (Belgium, jacks) went to war preflop with premium holdings.
The 6♣6♦8♦6♠5♣ board kept the aces in front and Kooji, who had 140,000 to begin the hand, just had Verbraeken covered, meaning the Belgian was eliminated. --NW
5:50pm: Set for SetteLevel 19: Blinds 5,000/10,000, Ante 1,000
I just saw Alexandre Sette score an enormous double-up in a hand where it's hard to assume the chips unlikely in.
With around 300,000 already within the pot on a K♠3♣Q♣ flop, Sette got his final 239,000 within the pot with pocket threes and was up against an opponent who had top two pair.
So a a complete cooler then, and the turn and river bricked to send an enormous pot to Sette who's as much as 780,000. --NW
5:36pm: Tunez takes out SavojaLevel 19: Blinds 5,000/10,000, Ante 1,000
After opening from middle position, Italy's Lorenzo Savoja watched it fold around to Gonazlo Tunez within the small blind who repopped it to 59,000. The action returned to Savoja who hesitated a beat or two, then announced he was all-in.
A count showed the entire bet was 346,000, and Tunez needed about 10 seconds to come back to the verdict to call.
Savoja showed A♦K♦ and Tunez turned over Q♣Q♥. The board then came nine-high -- 9♦9♠4♥2♣6♠ -- and Savoja lingered a moment before having it confirmed that indeed Tunez had him outchipped.
The Swiss player is as much as 750,000 in this day and age with about 250 players left. --MH
5:32pm: Tusal takes a turn for the betterLevel 19: Blinds 5,000/10,000, Ante 1,000
Sebastian Tusal was all-in for 107,000 with A♦K♥ against Jean Alves' Q♣Q♥, and things looked terrible at the flop. The T♣Q♦7♣ gave Alves top set and left Tusal drawing pretty thin.
But hold on a minute. He did have a gutshot to dream for, and the dream came true at the J♠ turn giving him Broadway. The 9♥ river changed nothing and Tusal doubled to 234,000, while Alves dropped to 150,000. --JS
| 19 | 5000 | 10000 | 1000 |
5:29pm: Lovgren's keeping it 500Level 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000, Ante 1,000
The 500-chip was far from play earlier on this tournament, but one among them decided to head and conceal within the big stack of Sofia Lovgren. She's only just found it, which matches to turn how unthreatened her chips was to this point today and she or he continues to ascend. --JS
5:23pm: Death by quadsLevel 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000, Ante 1,000
Ole Olsen is as much as 430,000 after eliminating Mirko Dantonio here in Barcelona.
Dantonio was in peril with K♥Q♥ and Olsen had him within the thick stuff with A♠A♦. The 6♥T♦A♣2♠A♥ board made quads for Olsen and Dantonio could only tap the table to signify "nice hand." --NW
5:20pm: Baby, I'm a millionaireLevel 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000, Ante 1,000
We have our first chip millionaire mainly event and Bartosz Solarczyk is that man. The Polish player has 1,080,000 and is the chip leader. --NW
Viewing a Solarczyk eclipse (of one million)
5:14pm: Running good? You do not Sey?Level 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000, Ante 1,000
David Jaoui had gotten short, and K♥K♠ appeared a swell hand with which to check out to swell his short stack. Up against Hassan Sey's A♠J♠, Jaoui had the most efficient percentage chance of scooping a pot five cards later.
But the flop came A♥2♠Q♠, producing a faintly audible "oof" from Jaoui in response.
"I've been running so good," Sey meanwhile said with a head shake because the board completed Q♦ then 5♦.
Jaoui is out, and Sey is now stacking a fab 890,000. --MH
It's been a fair day, per Sey
5:10pm: Sued sinks IeminaLevel 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000, Ante 1,000
Manlio Iemina just committed the last of his short stack with 8♥7♠ and when he saw he was up against David Sued's T♠T♦ already moved from his chair in anticipation of what was to come.
Indeed, the Q♣9♦K♣Q♣5♠ board brought no help, and Iemina exits while Sued stacks around 300,000. --MH
5:07pm: No sign of slowing downLevel 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000, Ante 1,000
We expect the post bubble carnage; we're used to it. It happens at almost every tournament. What we are not used to seeing though is that pace of departures continue well after the bubble has burst. It's here in Barcelona with a continuing cry of "all-in and speak to" coming from the dealers.
We were interested in one such call and located Marius Varanavicius all-in for 67,000 with A♦K♥ and Sven Lucha having called him with 9♠9♥. The board was bereft of picture cards because it fell 6♣T♦8♦2♥4♦ to eliminate Marius Varanavicius.
A couple of minutes later Jan-Eric Schwippert busted out when his A♦7♥ didn't spike against pocket queens. --NW
4:58pm: Moorman continues to crushLevel 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000, Ante 1,000
It just gets better and higher for Chris Moorman presently. He was already one of the vital biggest stacks, but he's added even more.
Online tournament poker's biggest ever winner raised to 18,000 and got one caller in Ireland's Jason Tompkins. The duo saw a 6♣Q♣8♣ and both checked, but there could be no checking at the 3♦ turn. Moorman installed a delayed c-bet of 24,000 and got a call, before the K♦ river hit the felt. Now Moorman's bet was 40,000, and after a minute or so's thought Tompkins matched it. He mucked, though, when he saw Moorman's Q♣9♥ for second pair.
Moorman is now playing 785,000. --JS
4:51pm: Van Zadelhoff's somewhat lostLevel 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000, Ante 1,000
When you come from a dinner break, players usually return to the very same seat they left. Their chips are there, in any case. But what happens whilst you return and your table, chair, and chips have all gone?
That's the placement Steven Van Zadelhoff found himself in after getting back from lunch about ten minutes late. His table have been moved -- and therefore so had his stack -- but he had no idea where he was now sitting.
Luckily, our helpful floor staff tracked his chips down and reunited them with their rightful owner. --JS
Reunited: Zadelhoff and chips
4:42pm: Big chipsLevel 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000, Ante 1,000
The start of Level 18 has seen the introduction of the golf green 25K chips and the removal of the five hundred denomination chips. Players with big stacks have had a variety of their pink chips exchanged for the golf green discs with Lucas Greenwood, Sofia Lovgren, and Chris Moorman among those who've been furnished with the large chips. --NW
4:39pm: Gomas says "no mas" to MargeresonLevel 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000, Ante 1,000
With about 140,000 within the middle and a board showing 6♠8♦K♦8♣Q♦, we ambled upon a type of tense "standoff"-type scenes over at Scott Margereson's table.
From the appearance of things, Margereson was the reason for the trouble, having perceived to check from the small ignorant of his lone opponent, Aldas Gomas, at the button, who'd fired 100,000. At that Margereson had put his entire stack of 233,000 in front of him, sending Gomas right into a several-minute-long bout of contemplation.
At last Gomas released his cards, conceding the pot to Margereson who now has about 380,000. Gomas keeps his 205,000. --MH
4:30pm: Back at itLevel 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000, Ante 1,000
Players have returned from their mid-afternoon meal and now are settled in for the latter element of Day 2. The schedule requires six more one-hour levels before Day 2 is finished. --MH
| 18 | 4000 | 8000 | 1000 |
3:15pm: Lunch breakLevel 17: Blinds 3,000/6,000, Ante 1,000
That's the top of the extent and the 315 remaining players at the moment are on a 75-minute break. Play will resume at 4:30pm local time. --NW
Chips in focus
3:09pm: A PRESENT for GregoryLevel 17: Blinds 3,000/6,000, Ante 1,000
Gregory Armand has just received an entire double-up. Picking up the action at the A♦2♥9♥ flop, Martins Ivanovs checked and Armand slid out 22,500 into the 40,000 pot, which got a decision from the Latvian.
We then saw the J♦ turn fall, and this time when Ivanovs checked Armand bet 55,000. He only had 36,000 behind, so he was essentially committed. But that did not stop Ivanovs from raising all-in.
Armand stood up as he considered it.
"Do you could have a collection? Pocket nines?" he asked, not expecting an answer.
In the top "he needed to call," and turned over his A♣J♥. That was way prior to his opponent's A♠3♦ and the river card bricked to present the Frenchman the double. --JS
3:03pm: Belgian takes out BoschLevel 17: Blinds 3,000/6,000, Ante 1,000
Toni Bosch shoved his shrapnel in from the cutoff with K♦8♦ and collected a decision from Tim Verheyen, who held K♦8♦. The board ran 3♣8♠5♣A♥T♠ and Bosch was eliminated whilst the Belgian is as much as 185,000. --NW
2:55pm: Tompkins completes tasty triumvirateLevel 17: Blinds 3,000/6,000, Ante 1,000
Talk a couple of murderer's row -- Table 16 has three heavy hitters sat next to one another. The terrifying line-up starts with Sofia Lovgren, sitting in Seat 1 and with chips -- a number of them. When she looks to her left she'll see Chris Moorman. The winningest online tournament player of all time isn't too shabby within the live arena either, having racked up over $4,000,000 in earnings.
Moorman's got an identical stack to Lovgren (500,000), but has a perilous and aggressive player to his left within the shape of Jason Tompkins. The Irishman has a fifth place finish in an EPT Main Event on his CV (San Remo, Season 9) and is currently being silly 185,000.
We'll be keeping track of this table to look how things develop. --NW
Moorman (left), Lovgren (right), and chips (middle)
2:43pm: Hoedemaker undoneLevel 17: Blinds 3,000/6,000, Ante 1,000
Micha Hoedemaker just saw his ESPT Barcelona Main Event run come to an end after pushing with ace-queen, getting called by pocket jacks, then watching both a queen and a jack come a few of the community cards.
With half an hour left in Level 17 -- and then will come a lunch break -- there are 351 players remaining. --MH
2:36pm: Huge pot for LovgrenLevel 17: Blinds 3,000/6,000, Ante 1,000
A bit pot has just shot Sofia Lovgren's stack as much as 620,000. She opened to 13,000 at the button, Chris Moorman gave up his small blind, and Sebastian Pauli called from the massive. The dealer spread a 9♠K♥T♦ flop and Lovgren made a continuation bet of 10,000 after it checked to her, and again Pauli called.
We went to the turn and it was the 2♣. The action went the same, only now Lovgren's bet was 17,000. The 4♠ completed the board and after one last check Lovgren put Pauli all-in for around 100,000. He quickly called as though he had no choice but hated it when he saw his K♦5♥ for high pair was crushed by Lovgren's Q♠J♠ - absolutely the nuts. Pauli hit the rail, and Lovgren now had such a lot of chips she struggled to stack all of them. --JS
2:25pm: Glaser gets some backLevel 17: Blinds 3,000/6,000, Ante 1,000
We often jest in regards to the curse of the chip leader, but it surely appears to have struck Benny Glaser today because the Day 1A chip leader of this event is now running on fumes.
The three time WSOP bracelet winner was all the way down to just 16,000 but doubled up when his shove from the small blind with K♠6♣ was called by Toni Bosch, who was the unique raiser.
Bosch's A♠4♠ started in front however the 9♥4♣6♠5♠T♦ board favored Glaser who now has just a little more with which to work. --NW
Benny's battling
| 17 | 3000 | 6000 | 1000 |
2:14pm: Glaser down, Wheeler outLevel 16: Blinds 2,500/5,000, Ante 500
Benny Glaser's Day 2 started so well but somewhere along the way in which things took a severe turn for the worst. He's gone from 400,000 to only 32,000 and desperately needs a double up right now.
Meanwhile, Jason Wheeler's tournament has come to an end. I missed the action but if I arrived I saw the executioner raking in chips having flopped the nut flush, and Wheeler was kindly sliding all of his stacks over his way. --JS
Jason Wheeler (left), sitting with Jonathan Karamalikis earlier on Day 2
2:06pm: Chip countsLevel 16: Blinds 2,500/5,000, Ante 500
A smattering of chip counts from across the room:
Steven van Zadelhoff - 705,000Quan Zhou - 570,000Lucas Greenwood - 530,000Chris Moorman - 505,000Sofia Lovgren - 490,000Louis Salter - 470,000Jason Wheeler - 200,000Luciana Manolea - 197,000Barny Boatman - 190,000Dean Lyall - 180,000Jannick Wrang - 99,000Arnaud Mattern - 87,000Martin Mulsow - 75,000Sebastian Pauli - 60,000Benny Glaser - 47,000
Zadelhoff and running (at the left)
2:01pm: Big win for the massive TicketLevel 16: Blinds 2,500/5,000, Ante 500
Kevin Garnett is an NBA legend. The long run hall-of-famer is understood for lots of things: his menacing competitiveness; his funny interviews; and the staggering sum of money he's made throughout his career. So much, in fact, that he was given the nickname "THE MASSIVE Ticket."
And no, he is not playing here on Day 2 of the ESPT7 Main Event. But he's here in name and spirit, as Georgios Giorkatzis from Greece is wearing an NBA top with Garnett's name at the back -- and he just got a whole bunch richer way to a pricey fold from Finland's Aku Joentausta.
The pot was huge before the river card - over 100,000. Giorkatzis checked the A♣4♦Q♦J♣7♣ board and Joentausta put out an enormous bet of 75,000. Garnett...sorry, Giorkatzis then moved all-in for 134,500, meaning it was 59,500 more to name. Thing is, Joentausta had 85,000 behind so it essentially for his life too.
After about three minutes within the tank the Finn said "fin" and threw his hand within the muck. Giorkatzis raked within the chips and now sits with 360,000. --JS
1:53pm: 3,447 players, 85 countriesLevel 16: Blinds 2,500/5,000, Ante 500
The 3,447 players participating within the Estrellas Poker Tour Barcelona Main Event came from 85 different countries. Spain predictably sent probably the most (586 players, or about 17%), with nearby France (467), Italy (256), and Germany (222) the following best represented.
Back by popular demand, it is the delicious-looking European Poker Tour pie chart giving a fuller picture of where everyone came from searching for an ESPT title (click to embiggen). --MH
1:42pm: Vieira holding steadyLevel 16: Blinds 2,500/5,000, Ante 500
Joao Vieira ended last night's final Day 1 flight in strong shape, leading for a time before ending with one of the most top stacks. The person from Portgual maintained that steady success here in the course of the first a part of Day 2, sitting comfortably behind a stack of 310,000 at the present. --MH
1:35pm: Two hands, two exitsLevel 16: Blinds 2,500/5,000, Ante 500
Two exits in consecutive hands at table 46 to inform you about now. Within the first, Ludovic Soleau three-bet all-in from the small blind for 66,000 and Daniele Primerano, who had opened to 11,000 from the cutoff, called to place the Frenchman in peril. Soleau showed A♥Q♠ and couldn't believe that Primerano had called him with J♥7♥. He also didn't just like the 7♦9♦7♠ flop and his lot didn't improve at the 6♦ turn or T♠ river.
On the next hand Dan Hoeidahl moved all-in from under the gun for right around 30,000 with Q♠T♣ and got a decision from an opponent holidng K♥2♣. It was looking good until the river of a Q♥7♥A♦7♦K♦ board however the cowboy on fifth street ended Hoeidahl's tournament.
489 players remain. --NW
1:33pm: First cashersLevel 16: Blinds 2,500/5,000, Ante 500
The field is shrinking fast. A few of the players out with min-cashes are Jonathan Westmorland (513th), Goran Mandic (578th), Vitaly Lunkin (623rd), Team PokerStars Pro George Danzer (633rd), Erwann Pecheux (675th), and Ricardo Chauriye (690th). --MH
Danzer down
1:28pm: More MargeresonLevel 16: Blinds 2,500/5,000, Ante 500
My last post mentioned how we hadn't discussed Scott "Aggro Santos" Margerson today. Well, here he's again after just taking down a tremendous pot.
Action folded to Dmitry Yurasov within the small blind and he made it 12,500 to play. Margereson was within the big blind and he decided to pop it as much as 34,000, only to then be four-bet to 70,000. Without much pause Margereson announced all-in, and Yurasov made the decision (although he didn't seem too happy about it).
When the cards were flipped it was clear why. Yurasov had the T♥T♣ -- a hand that was too good to fold, but almost destined to either be flipping or behind. Seems it was the former, as Margereson had the A♦Q♦.
The 5♠9♠4♠ brought nothing for Margereson, and Yurasov was certainly praying that the turn and river stayed low. So the Q♣ turn card was with regards to the worst imaginable. It preceded the 3♣ river and similar to that Yurasov's 180,000 shipped to the UK-born Mexico-living pro.
Margereson now has 480,000 -- good for just shy of 100 big blinds. --JS
Margereson at the move
1:20pm: Prize pool and payoutsLevel 16: Blinds 2,500/5,000, Ante 500
The bubble only burst lower than an hour ago, but nearly 200 players have already cashed within the Estrellas Poker Tour Barcelona Main Event. It's pretty much as good a time as any, then, to share some details about the prize pool and payouts.
With 3,447 players the prize pool is a whopping €3,343,590, and it's being divided a few of the top 695 finishers with the largest share of €423,600 going to the winner.
Here's how the payouts will go at Monday's final table:
1st: €423,6002nd: €301,6803rd: €241,3004th: €202,4205th: €163,8006th: €125,4507th: €87,3508th: €62,300
With play resumed, another two dozen have already been knocked out, trimming the sector to not up to 500. --MH
| 16 | 2500 | 5000 | 500 |
12:58pm: Break time
After an exhilarating first couple of levels, players are catching their collective breath as they've arrived on the first 20-minute break of the day. --MH
12:57pm: Margereson sticking around (although not on this hand)Level 15: Blinds 2,000/4,000, Ante 500
We haven't mentioned Scott Margereson yet today however the beast referred to as 'Aggro Santos' remains to be hanging around on this one with roughly 200,000. He was within the big blind on this hand and saw a flop, but that was so far as he went.
Frederic Schwarzer opened to 9,000 which got one caller, followed by calls from Dmitry Yurasov within the small blind and Margereson. The flop came down 7♠5♣K♣ and it checked to Schwarzer, allowing him to continue for 15,000. Only Yurasov called to peer the J♣ turn, which both players checked.
We saw an 8♦ river and Yurasov saw a chance to steer out, with a large bet of 48,000. Schwarzer seemed a little bit confused, somewhat curious, just a little surprised... but in any case he was out, folding his hand and fending off on break. --JS
12:52pm: Greenwood picks off the bluffLevel 15: Blinds 2,000/4,000, Ante 500
Lucas Greenwood is one third of the Greenwood poker playing brethren and whilst his brother Sam might enter the Super High Roller that's just begun, Luc is making hay on this event as he's as much as 400,000 after picking off an opponent's river bluff.
He was facing a raffle of 40,000 on a whole board of 5♥4♥K♣4♠5♣ and took a while before calling with pocket nines. His opponent had J♥T♥ for the missed flush draw and Greenwood took the pot.
Meanwhile it looks as if Greenwood's brother, Sam, is signing up for the €50K Super High Roller that may be now underway. --NW
12:46pm: One less MorinLevel 15: Blinds 2,000/4,000, Ante 500
Both Romain Morin and Jan Nijmeijer had short stacks and medium-strength hands after they jointly went all-in before the flop at present. Morin had K♠J♠, a greater starter than Nijmeijer's Q♦8♣, but five cards later -- Q♥9♣8♠2♦J♦ -- Nijmeijer's hand was best.
Nijmeijer had Morin outchipped by a few, and so the latter heads to the exit while Nijmeijer gets to continue to battle, albeit still with a brief stack. --MH
12:39pm: All Merabets are offLevel 15: Blinds 2,000/4,000, Ante 500
Ooof. It has been a coarse start for French player Hilal Merabet -- the person who came into this present day second in chips with 410,000. He just got really unlucky to double up Italy's Elio Melandri, and lose 117,000 within the process.
The money went in preflop -- Melandri with Q♠T♠ and Merabet with A♣A♠. The Q♥7♠3♦ flop paired Melandri, but Merabet wasn't too phased by it. Little did he know that the T♦ was about to hit the turn and leave him needing the board to pair. It didn't, and Merabet has dipped to around 250,000 now. --JS
Hilal Merabet
12:31pm: Luciani loses out, Rebollar rollingLevel 15: Blinds 2,000/4,000, Ante 500
The "all in and speak to"! calls are relentless here through the post-bubble period. Among the being delivered was one today from Alessandro Luciani's table, where the Italian was all-in with A♥K♥ and at extreme risk versus Jose Valls Rebollar's A♠A♦.
The board rolled out 3♠6♦K♠T♥4♦ to pair Luciani's king, but that wasn't enough and he joins the wave of players heading to the cashier. Rebollar has 320,000 now. --MH
12:24pm: Exits, exits and oh yes, more exitsLevel 15: Blinds 2,000/4,000, Ante 500
I think I'd need about 12 arms and as many feet so that you can cover the sheer volume of all-in and calls which can be currently happening within the tournament room. There were around 55 exits within the 20 minutes because the bubble burst and that i caught a few them first hand.
Hassan Sey is as much as 450,000 after eliminating Mihai Ceuca, the latter got it in with pocket sixes and was up against Sey's A♣Q♠. A queen hit the flop and that was that Ceuca.
One table over Alejandro Perez Torres had a smaller pair, pocket threes and was in serious trouble against Kirill Solovev's pocket kings. The board bought no help for Torres and he was added to the scores of Level 15 eliminations. --NW
12:15pm: It's Novikova 'til it's ovaLevel 15: Blinds 2,000/4,000, Ante 500
PokerStars Team Online's Liliya Novikova continues to be on this one. In fact, she just picked up a couple of chips by knocking out Sven Kersten. He moved all-in from the small blind for around 27,000 over a button min-raise, and Novikova re-jammed within the big blind. The unique raiser folded and the cards were flipped.
Novikova had the products with the J♠J♦ against the A♥4♠, and no Ace hit at the 2♥Q♦Q♠4♣Q♣ runout. She's as much as 120,000 now. --JS
Team Online's Liliya Novikova
12:05pm: Here comes the noise...Level 15, Blinds 2,000-4,000 (500 ante)
As you'd expect after the bubble has burst, the volume of all-in and calls we're hearing is pretty crazy at the moment. We'll bring you an update of ways many players are left once the dust has settled.
Chris Moorman is one of the helping to whittle down the sphere. He opened to 8,500 and was shoved on by Almir Gusalovic for around 40,000. It folded back to Moorman who instantly called, and here's why: A♥A♣.
That was crushing Gusalovic's K♣4♣, and he got no assistance on the 3♠3♦6♦7♦Q♣ board. Moorman is as much as around 480,000. --JS
Moorman, less focused than Sofia Lovgren
11:50am: The bubble has burst!Level 15, Blinds 2,000-4,000 (500 ante)
So with 698 players left and 4 all-ins the equation was simple. If three of the four all-in players busted out then everyone else could be within the money.
Bubble time!
Two of the primary three went the best way of the large stack so it was all right down to the last of all-ins to make your mind up if they'd must be another round of hand for hand play. It was to play out on table 43 and Toby Stone - the tournament director - announced the action to the hungry masses.
There was already a 6♦3♥8♦ flop at the felt when he arrived and it was time for the players to show their cards over. It was Daniel Gecer who was at risk, he was first to turn and opened K♦K♣. AN EVEN hand, but inferior to Andre Comemale because the Frenchman had pocket aces.
The 7♣ turn and 9♥ river meant that Gecer was eliminated and the remainder 695 players are actually within the money. --NW
Gecer goes
| 15 | 2000 | 4000 | 500 |
11:37am: Hand for handLevel 14, Blinds 1,500-3,000 (500 ante)
At 699 players, we went into hand for hand play. However, there has been just one all-in/call/elimination at the last hand which saw Sebastian Barhs Malec sent to the rail by Ben Zech. The latter opened, Malec jammed for around 40,000 and Zech called with K♣Q♦. It was up against Malec's 7♥7♠ but that hand was crushed at the 9♠K♠Q♠ flop. The 9♥ turn and K♦ river only improved Zech to a whole house and that was that.
698 players remain, so we're two clear of the hard bubble and 3 busts clear of the money.
11:25am: Romero runs out of chipsLevel 14, Blinds 1,500-3,000 (500 ante)
Gustavo Paredes Romero is among the players who's fallen just wanting the money here in Barcelona. He had about eight big blinds left by the point he committed them holding 9♥9♦ and got a choice from Jerome Brion, who had A♦K♥.
An ace at the flop sent Romero to the rail. --NW
11:10am: Almost bubble timeLevel 14, Blinds 1,500-3,000 (500 ante)
The clock have been paused and Toby Stone is delivering instructions to the players. Surely a type of is for players to stick of their seats in the course of the bubble period so staff can get between tables. It'll never happen though, just like the blinds rising, it is a fact of tournament poker that they will be a crowd at whichever table looks as if bursting the bubble.
There was also an instruction to the dealers, any all-in and speak to must now be announced. The stress is ramping up here because the bubble is getting closer. --NW
11:05am: No fakingLevel 14, Blinds 1,500-3,000 (500 ante)
This reporter goes to carry his hands up and say he thought Silvestro Sotera was auditioning for a film whilst he was watching this hand.
The situation was as follows, there have been 711 players left and 695 will make the cash. Sotera was under-the-gun and only had a handful of blinds left, 22,000 to be precise so just over seven big blinds.
So when he began to tank the natural assumption was that he was stalling for time, nobody at his table seem too bothered about this. Some checked out their phones, others simply stared into space. Nobody seemed remotely excited by calling the clock.
It seemed just a matter of time before Sotera would drop this façade and push his cards over the road, but instead he pushed his chips over the line and moved all-in. One after the other the opposite players folded and he survived. --NW
10:57am: What Joao want me to do?Level 14: Blinds 1,500/3,000, Ante 500
Portugal's Joao Vieira ended the day strong yesterday with 232,000. He hasn't had the best start today, having dipped to 165,000.
In a hand I just caught, he was contemplating even if to name Didac Garcia Diaz's all-in. Vieira had bet 12,000 right into a 30,000 pot on a Q♠5♦2♠ flop, and then Diaz jammed for 42,000.
After some time Vieira started talking. "What should I do?" he asked.
Vieira ponders
"TIME," said Diaz instantly, calling the clock.
About halfway into the countdown he laid it down. --JS
10:55am: The top of BassandLevel 14, Blinds 1,500-3,000 (500 ante)
Raise, re-raise, shove, call. That's how a large number of all-ins go and it's how the only between Francisco García and Jean-Marc Bassand played out over on table 61. Bassand played the role of the raiser/shover with A♦K♦ and García snapped him off with pocket aces.
The board teased Bassand because it came 6♦4♥2♠K♥6♠ to present him hope at the river which failed to arrive. --NW
10:48am: Wheeler fortuneLevel 14: Blinds 1,500/3,000, Ante 500
US pro Jason Wheeler are available playing absolutely anything - from the large high rollers to smaller side events. He's currently in a fair position to make the money here today, having just won a pleasing pot that took his stack as much as 220,000.
I picked up the action on a 4♥T♥5♥ flop, and Wheeler had just called of venture from Russia's Aleksandr Kashevarov. The turn came the Q♦ and Aleksandr bet again - 13,000. Wheeler bumped it as much as 36,000 and it was insta-called. That took us to the 9♥ river, putting four hearts on board. Aleksandr went back to his preferred amount - 13,000 - and Wheeler quickly called. Both had flushes, but Wheeler's K♥Q♣ was best over his opponent's T♣J♥. --JS
10:40am: Show me the money!Level 14, Blinds 1,500-3,000 (500 ante)
Breaking: the winner of the ESPT7 Barcelona Main Event will receive €423,600 whilst 695 players will make the cash with a min-cash worth €1,100. We're about 50 off the money presently and we'll bring you the entire payout structure once we will be able to. --NW
10:35am: Double quick timeLevel 14, Blinds 1,500-3,000 (500 ante)
It's been a rapid fire start with no less than 60 players losing the last in their chips throughout the opening HALF-HOUR and the selection of players left has now dipped under 800.
Dan Heimiller, Vladislav Donchev, Leif Iversen, Adrien Allain, Mikal Blomlie and Vladimir Geshkenbein are among those to have fallen in the course of the opening level of Day 2. --NW
10:32am: Raiser GlaserLevel 14: Blinds 1,500/3,000, Ante 500
Benny Glaser ended Day 1A as chip leader, and he's already busted a player here today to extend his stack even more.
The UK's three time WSOP bracelet winner opened to 6,500 from early position and got callers in Francois Munoz and Robert Fenner out of the small and massive blinds. The 3 went to a flop, and the dealer spread the 7♣8♠2♣. It checked to Glaser, but he chose to not c-bet.
The turn came the A♥ and it checked to Glaser once more, who now installed a delayed continuation of 10,500. Munoz got out the way, but Fenner jammed for around 35,000 total and Glaser snapped it off. The Brit had the A♣T♥, way sooner than Fenner's A♣5♥. The river wasn't a five and Glaser moved as much as 410,000. --JS
More chips for Glaser
10:20am: One small step for MoormanLevel 14: Blinds 1,500/3,000, Ante 500
Chris Moorman may well be the most important winner in online tournament poker history, but he's also pretty nifty at the live felt too. With $4,132,263 live to compliment his incredible $13,475,616 online, it's no surprise we discover him with a good stack (176,500) here on Day 2.
He's hit the bottom running, opening to 6,500 at the button and getting one caller in Niko Koop out of the massive blind. The flop fell T♠A♠K♣ and Moorman installed similar c-bet of 6,500 after it was checked to him. Koop made the call, but check-folded to Moorman's 15,500 bet at the 9♦ turn. --JS
10:15am: Tales of ace-kingLevel 14, Blinds 1,500-3,000 (500 ante)
It's a standard begin to Day 2 here in Barcelona with quite a lot of short stacks getting their chips over the line.
Nick Newport isn't a kind of players, but he raised it up with A♣K♦ and called off the additional when Ricardo Lorenzo shoved for approximately 29,000 with A♠8♣. The 8♥4♥8♠4♣8♦ board connected rather nicely with Lorenzo's hand and he doubled up, Newport still has a snug stack of 160,000.
Meanwhile, one table over Abdullatif Attia chanced his arm, moving his final 30,500 in whilst holding A♦9♥. That aggression removed numerous players but not Stefano Locorotondo. The Italian called with A♣K♦ and hung on the 6♠2♥5♠2♣7♦ run out to eliminate Attia. --NW
10:10am: Shuffle up and dealLevel 14: Blinds 1,500/3,000, Ante 500
Cards are within the air here on Day 2. --JS
| 14 | 1500 | 3000 | 500 |
9:40am: Let the survivors combine
Buenos días! We're up early again as today is Day 2 of the Estrellas Poker Tour Season 7 Main Event here in Barcelona. We've had a record breaking turnout for this event, with a colossal Day 1C that brought the entire amount of individual entries to 3,450.
The tournament rooms on the Casino Barcelona were jam-packed yesterday as 1,755 players tried their luck. When all was said and done just 449 players survived, this means that when combined with the Day 1A and Day 1B survivors we'll have an afternoon 2 starting field of 862.
The man that leads all of them at this time surged to an enormous chip stack late within the day yesterday. Hungary's Gabor Szabo won a string of hands - including one huge one - that shot his stack as much as 454,000.
Gabor Szabo
His closest competitors are Frenchman Hilal Merabet (410,000), the UK's Louis Salter (378,000), and end-of-Day-1A chip leader Benny Glaser (360,000). Here's a combined list of all 862 players' chip counts heading into Day 2.
We're about to take the following steps to learning who turns into the ESPT7 Barcelona Main Event champ, so relax and keep hitting refresh for the most recent updates. --JS
Ready to play the EPT yourself? Join PokerStars and start your journey. Click here to get an account.Take a glance on the official website of the EPT, with tournament schedule, news, results and accommodation details for EPT13 Barcelona and the remainder of the season.
Also all of the schedule information is at the EPT App, that's available on both Android or IOS.
PokerStars Blog reporting team at the ESPT7 Barcelona Main Event: Jack Stanton, Martin Harris, and Nick Wright. Photography by René Velli and Carlos Monti. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter @PokerStarsBlog.
Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: European Poker Tour]
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