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4.55pm: Persson back and back in style
Level 4 - Blinds: 100-200 (25 ante)
Ji Zhang still has a stack of about 70,000 and there was no surprise to see him raise to 550 from under the gun. Ezequiel Lebed called from two seats to his left and action passed to Simon Persson on the button.
You might remember Persson from the Eureka Prague Main Event, when he was a dominant force at one of the most entertaining final tables we've seen for quite some time. Persson finished third there, but has reinvested some of the bankroll boost in this EPT Main Event.
Persson raised to 1,700. That's the kind of thing he was doing a lot in Prague.
Both Ji and Ezequiel called, which meant three layers saw the flop of [4c][kh][4d]. It went check, check, bet of 2,400 from Persson, and then fold, fold.
Persson looks the part. He's wearing a similar dark polo-neck sweater to the one he modelled in Prague. Can the Milk Tray Man deliver again? -- HS
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4.45pm: Set over set again
Level 4 - Blinds: 100-200 (25 ante)
David Lappin would certainly fall into the category of "Friend of PokerStars Blog". We don't have patches and there's no financial bonus to accompany the title, but we'll always have a chat when our paths cross and hear the latest from the Irish poker scene.
Among other dubious benefits is an increased chance of having details of a mundane hand reported on the blog. We'll usually stop by tables of folk we know to see how they're getting on. It's why Lappin said recently, "I look forward to reliving it in ten minutes" having noticed the reporter lurking to watch the following horror show play out.
Robert Heidorn opened from under the gun, making it 525 to play. Lappin was the only caller from the cutoff and that took the two of them to a flop of [jh][5h][qd]. If Lappin was excited by this, he didn't show it. He casually called Heidorn's continuation bet of 700.
The turn came [2c] and Heidorn bet again. I think it was 1,900, for which he threw in two yellow 1,000-denomination chips. Lappin called and change was given to both of them quicker than I could register the precise amount.
Anyway, the river brought the [ac].
Heidorn bet 4,300 and Lappin called instantly, tossing only one chip over the line to indicate the call. Heidorn then turned over [as][ad], which was a rivered set. Lappin couldn't resist showing the [5d][5s] for a flopped set of fives, rendered redundant by the end.
Hope you didn't read this far, David. You already knew the ending. -- HS
4.05pm: Set over set boosts Madsen
Level 3 - Blinds: 100-200
Jeff Madsen was one of the early side-event winners this week, picking up a trophy in the €500 Quadruple Stud and €4,840, which is almost a buy in for the Main Event.
His stack hadn't changed much from its 30,000 starting level by the time I wandered past his table a few minutes ago and watched it double in size.
They were at the turn, with the four community cards showing [ks][qd][7c][5d]. Madsen bet 3,400, Mudasser Hussain made it 8,800 and Madsen shoved for something like 24,000. Hussain called.
This made grim reading for Hussain. He had flopped a set with his [7d][7s]. Only problem: so had Madsen with his [kd][kh].
Hussain counted out the double up and looked at the shrapnel left in front of him. Meanwhile Madsen is cooking with about 50,000 now. -- HS
3:55pm: Scattered information
Level 3 - Blinds: 100-200
Some tournament tidbits:
* There are now 413 players registered.
* Ari Engel is out.
* Joachim Gong has about 88,000. I've seen nobody with more than that.
3:50pm: Cheated out of a showdown
Level 3 - Blinds: 100-200
Every so often you see one of those hands which, if it were pay per view, you'd want your money back.
Not that it was anyone's fault.
I caught up with it on a [qc][8h][2s] flop. Pierre Calamusa was in the cutoff and bet 600. Johan Verhagen meanwhile was on the button, and called for a [5c] turn card. Calamusa checked this time leaving it to Verhagen to bet 2,200. Calamusa called though, for the [3h] on the river.
Again he checked leaving it to Verhagen to bet 4,200. Seeing this Calamusa recoiled slightly, then tanked for a few moments. It was a tense one, but when Calamusa called it meant we would at least get the answers.
Actually we wouldn't. Calamusa did call, but Verhagen immediately mucked. With no reason to show Calamusa passed his cards to the dealer as well. - SB
3:45pm: No room at the inn
Level 3 - Blinds: 100-200
Table 1 is an uncomfortable place to be this afternoon, with Steve Warburton, Simon Persson and Ji Zhang over there, all of whom have had significant success on at least one European Poker Tour stop over the past couple of years. Mick Graydon and Kim Wittendorff with both attest to that. They started on that table but have since departed.
Ji, who made the final table in Barcelona a couple of seasons ago, seems to have been the man to profit most from the early exchanges. He has about 68,000 in chips.
However uncomfortable the table already is, there was a threat to make it even more incommodious recently when Sylvain Loosli wandered over with a fresh rack of chips. Not only that, he had a ticket for the table--specifically for the seat already occupied by Ji.
With nine men already there, there was no room at the inn and so this tough table denied access to another fierce competitor. A floorman came over to fix the problem and send Loosli on the lookout for a more spacious place to reside. -- HS
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3:30pm: De Meulder v Ainsworth again
Level 3 - Blinds: 100-200
Jonathan Concepcion has Mattias de Meulder to his left. And Mattias de Meulder gives up the same positional advantage to Jude Ainsworth. Pity Concepcion.
On a recent hand, he raised to 525 from mid-position and De Meulder called. So did Ainsworth. That took the three of them to a flop of [js][5s][6d] and both Concepcion and De Meulder checked.
Ainsworth rarely checks. He bet 1,250 and Concepcion's participation was over. De Meulder, however, called and the saw a turn of [ad]. De Meulder checked. Ainsworth bet 1,250. De Meulder called.
That meant a river of the [jd]. Both players now checked and De Meulder turned over his [as][9s] with the conviction of a man who thought he was good. He was right. Ainsworth folded. -- HS
3:25pm: La dolce vita
Level 3 - Blinds: 100-200
It's been a good festival already for Italian players, especially after Mustapha Kanit's victory in the €25,000 yesterday. Rodrigo Portaleoni isn't quite the household name that Kanit is, but he has a stack closing in on 80,000 already, so he's enjoyed his first two levels today. -- HS
3:20pm: Van Gent on Black list
Level 3 - Blinds: 100-200
A flop of [6c][5d][js] and a pot that Andy Black had his eye on. Cornelis Van Gent was in the big blind and checked to Black who bet 675. Craig McCorkell in the cut off called, as did Van Gent.
Andy BlackThe turn was the [5s]. Van Gent checked again and Black bet 1,200. That forced a fold from McCorkell but Van Gent stuck around for a [6d] river card. Check-check.
Black waited for Van Gent who turned over [jh][kh]. That was enough. Black mucked. - SB
3:10pm: Aces for Difelice
Level 3 - Blinds: 100-200
Andre Difelice, noticeable for a good sized stack and for a bright yellow hoodie, bet 700 in early position, getting a call from Julien Rouxel in the hijack. So far so good for the Canadian who had found pocket aces.
They saw a flop: [tc][7s][4s]
Difelice bet another 700, which Rouxel called for a [7d] turn card. Difelice had faith in his aces though and bet again, 1,600 this time. Rouxel called once more.
The river was the [kc]. Difelice fired again, another 3,500. Rouxel tossed a single chip in to signify a call.
Difelice showed his aces.
At this point you can usually tell how good your hand is by the speed at which your opponent turns their cards over - if they show you at all. Rouxel didn't delay though, and he didn't muck. It meant trouble for Difelice's aces, which were beaten by Rouxel's [9c][7c]. He's up to 34,000, while Difelice drops to 40,000. - SB
3:05pm: O'Rourke o'roaring
Level 3 - Blinds: 100-200
Of a strong Irish contingent on home soil, Gavin O'Rourke appears to be do the best so far. He is possibly the tournament chip leader in these admittedly very early days, with about 70,000.
Some other counts:
Dominik Panka - 34,000
Niall Farrell - 20,500
Theo Jorgensen - 28,100
Dermot Blain - 23,000
Lex Veldhuis - 30,200
Plus those on the chip-count page.
2:55pm: Level up
Level 3 - Blinds: 100-200
It's Level 3 now and you have to pay 200 if you're in the big blind. Outrageous.
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2:35pm: Break time
Level 2 - Blinds: 75-150
That's the end of Level 2 and players will now go for their first 15-minute break of the day. We'll try to update those chip counts too. -- HS
2:30pm: The only way to deal with Ainsworth
Level 2 - Blinds: 75-150
Jude Ainsworth has got himself up to around 60,000 chips, which is totally in keeping with his smash and grab approach to the game. Mattias de Meulder is the man in the unfortunate position of playing directly into Ainsworth, but is not overawed.
On a recent hand, De Meulder opened from UTG+1 to 400. Ainsworth raised to 1,100. De Meulder came back over the top to 2,750 and Ainsworth reluctantly folded. That's how you do that. -- HS
2:20pm: If we could just get to showdown
Level 2 - Blinds: 100-200
Sometimes you manage to catch the action, the hands that play to showdown. Other times you're left wondering what could have been. To be honest, this latter category vastly outnumbers the first.
Take Felipe Ramos for instance. He just won a pot against David Maudlin by betting on a flop of [6h][4h][6c]. Excitement pre-flop quickly brought to an end.
The same goes for a hand involving Matthias de Meulder. You hope to have more to report than "he folded to a bet on the flop," but most of the time there isn't. But at least you now know that De Meulder is here.
Then there are those pots that somehow become bigger than expected, like that between Anton Bertilsson (the High Roller finalist from earlier this week) and Marcin Chmielewski.
Chmielewski bet big on the turn and river (we knew they were big bets because they involved blue chips worth 5K). Bertilsson called the first time but not the second in a pot worth 25,000. That was close to what some players would pay just to see what each player had and satisfy their curiosity. Turns out we'll never know. - SB
2pm: More Lodden
Level 2 - Blinds: 75-150
Sometimes it just happens that one player hogs all the early updates--and very often that player is Johnny Lodden. He simply plays a lot of hands at all stages of the tournament. Walk past his table, the chances are you'll find something to write about.
Johnny LoddenThis one was at the flop of [3h][kc][td] and Anton Bertilsson, who would have been in the big blind pre-flop, checked. Luc Greenwood, who would have been under the gun, bet 800 and that got John Haigh, in for the ride, to fold.
Lodden, in the cutoff, called. Bertilsson folded.
They both checked the [qh] on the turn, but Greenwood bet 1,750 on the river of [8s]. Lodden called pretty quickly and now had Greenwood's [as][ks] beaten with his [8h][th]. -- HS
1:55pm: Abecassis with great call on the river
Level 2 - Blinds: 100-200
A great call by Michel Abecassis just took his stack up towards the 50,000 mark. It came against Istvan Pilhofer, who had led much of the betting.
On a board of [2h][kh][7s][6d] Pilhofer had bet 4,100 after Abecassis checked. He eventually called and watched the [kc] land on the river. That put two kings on the board, which would ultimately play on the Frenchman's mind. Pilhofer bet another 8,500 to leave his opponent with a tricky decision.
Abecassis, a veteran of the tour, took a moment. "Will you show me if I fold?" he asked Pilhofer, who was noncommittal. Did Pilhofer have a king? Finally Abecassis decided there was only one way to find out. He called.
Pilhofer immediately conceded, showing [ah][jc]. Abecassis turned over [qs][qh], vindicated. - SB
1:45pm: Up and down with Conor O'Driscoll
Level 2 - Blinds: 100-200
You win some, you lose some, and in the end it all balances out. That's about the size of Conor O'Driscoll's main event campaign so far. He just played three hands in a row, losing the first two, but wining the third to get back to where he started.
In the first it was Jake Cody opening for 400 in the cutoff. O'Driscoll was in the small blind and called, as did Tomas MacNamara in the big.
The flop came [ah][5c][kh] and the hand was put to an end immediately when Cody bet.
It was Cody raising again in the next hand, another 400, which O'Driscoll called. The flop came [8d][5d][ts] this time. This time the hand was checked down, through the [8h] turn and [ah] river card. Cody showed [3s][3c] to win the pot.
Then O'Driscoll finally got his chips back. After Evagoras Hadjispyrides bet 400 from the hijack, O'Driscoll raised to 1,200 from the cut off. Hadjispyrides called for a [6h][4d][8d], but when he checked to O'Driscoll, and he made it 1,200 to play, the hand was over.
All square. - SB
1:35pm: Getting shot of Lodden
Level 2 - Blinds: 75-150
I'm not at all certain how this one played out pre-flop, but somehow there were five players still involved and some heavy betting action. The board was there on the table -- [3c][ts][9d] -- and Marcin Chmielewski, who was under the gun pre-flop, bet 850.
John Haigh, one seat to Chmielewski's left, called the 850 but then Johnny Lodden--yes, him--raised to 2,350. That persuaded Sandrine Zeitoun and Anton Bertilsson, who also had cards, to let their hands go.
Back to Chmielewski, however, and he was still interested. He three-bet to 6,850. Haigh sigh-folded, but Lodden called without emotion.
The turn came [tc] and both remaining players checked. The [qh] came on the river. Chmielewski bet 7,000 and that finally got shot of Lodden. -- HS
1:25pm: The Scandinavian connection
Level 2 - Blinds: 75-150
Ireland's position in the EU accounts for a healthy contingent of Scandinavian players here in Dublin. Many of the tax issues they face when travelling the globe are not so complex inside this zone.
It means that on a table only a short step from media row, Sweden's Simon Persson sits beside Kim Wittendorff, of Denmark. And a few tables over, Norway's Johnny Lodden is opposite another Swede, Anton Bertilsson, whose festival is already €176,640 to the good.
Luc Greenwood and Casey Kastle are also on that table, but no one will be surprised to learn that it's Lodden making the early running.
After Greenwood opened from early position, making it 300 to play, Lodden unloaded 1,025 from the small blind and took the small pot with a minimum of fuss. He had to work a little harder on the next hand, against Sandrine Zeitoun, but he won it nonetheless.
This time action folded to Lodden on the button and he raised to 300. Zeitoun called from the big blind and the two took to the flop of [4d][qh][js]. Zeitoun checked, Lodden bet 400 and Zeitoun called.
The turn came [kh] and Zeitoun checked again. Lodden bet again, this time 900, and Zeitoun called. That took them to the [qs] on the river. For a third time, Zeitoun checked. For a third time, Lodden bet. He made it 2,100 this time.
For a first and only time, Zeitoun folded. -- HS
1:15pm: Modest gains and modest losses
Level 1 - Blinds: 50-100
You might think moving all-in would be rare with two minutes left on the first level of play, but it does happen. Such as in the case of Derek Chisholm, who with the board dealt, and a pot to be one, went nuclear. It worked. A modest gain that amused some players at the table. But a win is a win.
Elsewhere Jen Shahade dropped to around 24,000 after a hand against Alberto Garcia of Spain.
With the board dealt [5c][tc][2h][8h][th] Garcia bet 1,400 which Shahade called. She mucked after Garcia showed [jh][td]. For his part Garcia is up to around 42,000. - SB
1:05pm: Welcome Wigg
Level 1 - Blinds: 50-100
The table that already features Ari Engel, Dietrich Fast, Steven Watts and Iliodoros Kamatakis now also seats Anton Wigg. It's not getting any easier.
It's a conversation-filled table too, both among its participants and further afield. Fast was chatting away to a friend on the rail when action folded to Wigg in the hijack and he bet 300. It got to Fast in the big blind and he folded too, tossing his 100 big blind theatrically in Wigg's direction.
"I take advantage when you are talking to a woman," Wigg said.
The on-table conversation is being led by Engel. He seems to be discussing his recent huge score at the Aussie Millions, where he prevailed from a 732-strong field to win AUD $1.6 million.
The specifics of the conversation seems to be the heads up duel he had with Tony Dunst, and Engel's attempts to make a deal. It's fascinating. You should hear it. (But you'll need to buy in and sit down at that tough table first.)
-- HS
12:55pm: Ivanov forced a Vamplew fold
Level 1 - Blinds: 50-100
As you'd expect, there are no earth moving hands played in these early stages. Among those folding early hands of little note either before or on the flop are Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, Andy Black, Jen Shahade, Eugene Katchalov and Kitty Kuo.
Meanwhile David Vamplew did at least get to the river.
Stefan Ivanov opened from under the gun for 300. The action was folded around to Vamplew in the big blind who called for a flop of [jc][ks][4s]. A check from Vamplew and another 550 from Ivanov, which Vamplew called.
On the [6h] turn card both players checked for a [qc] on the river. Vamplew bet out his time, making it 1,000. Ivanov paused, much like a player about to fold. But he didn't. Instead he lumped in 4,200. Vamplew wasted little time folding. - SB
12:45pm: Oops
Level 1 - Blinds: 50-100
Serdar Demiroglu stood up, put his sweater on and seemed irked that the dealer would not allow him to leave. It seemed for all the world as though he was the first elimination of the day.
Here's why: he opened from the button and ignited a raising war with Breixo Gonzales, one seat to his left. When I arrived, Demiroglu had 5,100 in front of him, Gonzales had 12,500 out and then Demiroglu shoved. Gonzales called.
Demiroglu knew this was bad news as he turned over his [ac][kc]. Gonzales showed [as][ah]. The board didn't help. It came [4h][7d][jc][jh][9s].
Demiroglu got up and prepared to leave, but the dealer wasn't convinced that this was terminal just yet. He counted down the stacks and Demiroglu actually had 150 more than his neighbour.
So as Gonzales was stacking a chip-leading stack (early days, early days), Demiroglu was pondering what to do with his 1.5 big blinds. -- HS
12:40pm: A taste of what is/might be to come
Level 1 - Blinds: 50-100
Dara O'Kearney has Jennifer Shahade for company this afternoon. He's on the button when she's in the big blind and they may tangle plenty this afternoon. This hand is a small hors d'oeuvre: O'Kearney opened his button, making it 300 to play and Shahade defended.
The flop fell [9d][jd][2s] and Shahade checked. O'Kearney continued, betting 400, and Shahade called. That took them to the [2h] turn. Check, check. And the checking continued after the [9c] river.
O'Kearney opened [ad][kd] and Shahade mucked. -- HS
12:20pm: A busier day
Level 1 - Blinds: 50-100
A quick glance across the room finds Jake Cody, Antoine Saout, Andre Akkari and ElkY also already among today's crowd. Liv Boeree, Jen Shahade, Lex Veldhuis, Theo Jorgensen, George Danzer and Jaime Staples are also expected. -- HS
12:10pm: No messing
Level 1 - Blinds: 50-100
There's a tough-looking table only a matter of steps inside the main entrance to the tournament room today, around which we find Ari Engel, Dietrich Fast and Steven Watts.
Iliodoros Kamatakis is also there. He's the man presently sitting eighth on the all-time Greek money list and a regular on the EPT. If Fast didn't know much about him before today, he has had an early introduction with what is likely the first five bet of the day.
Fast opened to 250 from the cutoff and Kamatakis raised to 750 from the button. Fast was prepared to invest more, making a four-bet of 2,100, but it didn't get rid of Kamatakis. He five-bet to 6,000.
Perhaps accepting this to be a possibility, Fast immediately put a contingency plan into action: snap folding and waiting for another hand. -- HS
12pm: Among others...
Level 1 - Blinds: 50-100
Our confirmed list of players today includes the following:
Mickey Petersen, Johnny Lodden, Eugene Katchalov, Anton Bertilsson, Ari Engel, Fabian Ortiz, Dietrich Fast, Gavin O'Rouke, Dara O'Kearney, Per Linde, Alexander Ivarsson, Thomas Butzhammer, David Lappin, Dominik Panka, Felipe Ramos, Ognyan Dimov and Slaven Popov.
When they actually turn up and start playing is anyone's guess, but they are among those on the early list expected to the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) headquarters this morning to get this show on the road. -- HS
11:55am: Readying for the deluge
Level 1 - Blinds: 50-100
Want to know what a busy day looks like on the European Poker Tour? Your answer is: today. Not only is it Day 1B of the €5,300 EPT Main Event, but also the final table of the UKIPT Main Event and the €10,000 Single-Day High Roller. We are stretched to breaking point.
You're in the right place here for the beginning of the EPT Main Event, but click thorough the scattered links for all that other fun. And it should be a good one: eight 75-minute levels for us, taking us through beyond midnight. Find some coffee and stick with us. -- HS
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Take a look at the official website of the EPT, with tournament schedule, news, results and accommodation details for the rest of the season.
Also all the schedule information is on the EPT App, which is available on both Android or IOS.
PokerStars Blog reporting team on the EPT12 Dublin Main Event: Stephen Bartley and Howard Swains. Back together again. Lanky and ginger, as you'll maybe know us. Photography by Neil Stoddart. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter: @PokerStarsBlog.
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