• CLICK TO REFRESH FOR CONTEMPORARY UPDATES• PLAYERS: TBC | TOTAL ENTRIES: TBC• EPT LIVE! | ESTRELLAS | SUPER HIGH ROLLER
8:10pm: Paella time!
After a snappy chip race to eliminate the 25 chips, the players could be out on a 75-minute dinner break. We'll be back after they are.--BW
7:55pm: Why does it need to be the river?Level 6 - Blinds: 150/300 (50 ante)
They can't just put the ace in the market at the flop, can they?
Faraz Jaka knows this all-too well. Folded to him at the button, he made it 1,200 to play. Alessandro Borsa sat within the big blind and re-raised to 4,000. That is where it became clear Jaka wasn't joking. He four-bet to 10,200. In came Borsa's five-bet shove for 34,450. Jaka snap-called with Q♦Q♣. Borsa turned up A♦K♥.
Jaka dodged the flop and switch in every way possible. He needed only to circumvent probably the most six outs left. He didn't. The A♠ at the river took greater than half his stack. And that was that.--BW
7:45pm: Farrell picking up where he left offLevel 6 - Blinds: 150/300 (50 ante)
Niall Farrell and John Juanda, who yesterday featured within the Super High Roller, at the moment are seated on the same table commonly Event.
Juanda won a hand from the large blind and is enjoying what's best described as a face massage. Meanwhile Farrell, not a massage man, was calling a big gamble from Jose Schwaiger from the large blind for a flop of T♣4♥8♠.
Farrell checked to Schwaiger who bet another 1,300, which Farrell then called for the 9♣ turn. That was checked for the 2♣ river card. Both checked, Farrell's Q♠J♥ getting the simpler of Schwaiger's ace-jack.
That put him on greater than 50,000. The following handcrafted that figure more like 55,000. And all without the will of a massage. - SB
7:10pm: Sergey Lebedev loses race, is done anywayLevel 6 - Blinds: 150/300 (50 ante)
Sometimes you simply need to wonder: should I just flip for it here? Sergey Lebedev found himself in barely that position a pair minutes ago. He'd are available in for a raise to 1,200 and left himself 8,000 behind. He made it through everyone however the big blind, Michael Addamo, who put out enough to position Lebedev all in. Lebedev held A♣J♥ and decided his remaining 16 bigs were moving into. He couldn't have asked for far more. Addamo held 2♦2♣, a hand that held up all of the way. Lebedev can now consider himself a number of the eliminated.
| 6 | 250 | 500 | 75 |
6:55pm: Jacobson shinesLevel 5 - Blinds: 150/300 (50 ante)
Martin Jacobson is without doubt one of the field today. The previous WSOP Main Event winner is the image of health. The one thing that glows more brightly than his yellow t-shirt is his skin. Being a skilled and successful poker player agrees with him.
He just opened for 1,000 from the cut off, getting a choice from Henri Koivisto within the big blind. The flop came 6♣7♠9♦ which Koivisto checked to Jacobson who bet another 1,500. Koivisto called once more.
The turn was the 2♥. Koivisto checked but sensed he was beaten when Jacobson made it 3,500 to play. It was. Jacobson as much as greater than 50,000. - SB
6:30pm: Fernandez doesn't love a chop potLevel 5 - Blinds: 150/300 (50 ante)
Leo Fernandez spent the vast majority of the early a part of his his day getting the choppy-choppy from a massage therapist. Now, with the therapist gone, he can't stop.
When we arrived on the table, the board was already fully out: T♣Q♦]A♠2♥K♦. Fernandez was locked in a everlasting raising battle with Adrian Ioan Ionescu, and everyone knew both men had jacks, and if certainly one of them didn't, he was going to feel mighty stupid. Because it turned out, that was precisely the case. Fernandez were ahead the entire option to the river with A♥J♠. Ionescu had managed a chop with J♣T♥. Fernandez was...well, his face looked so much like this.
6:30pm: More from GraftonLevel 5 - Blinds: 150/300 (50 ante)
Pratyush Buddiga just sent a player to the rail, but was purchasing it with friendly banter from his friend Sam Grafton.
With the board reading [j][9][t] the chips were in (in this a part of the tale we're short on detail). Buddiga called Rojas who had shown [k][q] for the straight. Buddiga had 9♦T♦ for bottom two.
Buddiga looked beaten until the turn [q] and river [9]. The last card gave him the whole house, and sent Rojas to the rail.Cue Grafton. He took to explaining the prowess of Buddiga to Davidi Kitai next to him, who laughed his way through it.
"He didn't even realise a straight was possible!" he told Kitai as Buddiga laughed too. "Unbelievable!" he said, turning to Buddiga. "You bust the poor guy as well!"
It was true. Rojas was picking up his bags while everyone was laughing, a river card clear of a unique future entirely.
Grafton laid into Buddiga somewhat more. "What did you think that he was going to turn you?"
"I'm happy to run over king-queen, he replied."
"I'm just going to chill and watch... stay out of ways until I AM GETTING bottom two pair... then go ballistic."
6:15pm: Picasso within the houseLevel 5 - Blinds: 150/300 (50 ante)
You know why we love Sam Grafton? He's good for a quote. On this case, in a snappy analysis of Davidi Kitai's tricky play, screams to the table: "We're attending to see the genius at work. We've Picasso here! We wish to see how he uses the f---ing paintbrush!"
You don't even need context for that. It's wonderful just because it is.--BW
6:05pm: MacPhee vs. KoonLevel 5 - Blinds: 150/300 (50 ante)
One of the tougher tables within the field features Simon Deadman, Kevin MacPhee, and Jason Koon, the latter two tangling in a pot just now.
MacPhee opened for 900 which was called by Oscar Kroon in addition to Koon within the bring to a halt and Vítor Monteiro within the big blind.
The flop came 4♦A♠8♥ which went checked four ways. That's exactly what happened at the Q♣ turn too.
The river card was the 7♣, which Monteiro checked. MacPhee was ready with a gamble of 1,300. That might get folds from Kroon and Monteiro but Koon called in between.
"Kings" announced MacPhee, sensing he was beaten. Koon nodded politely and turned over his A♥5♥ to take the pot.
MacPhee is relatively short on the moment, with roughly 7,300. Koon meanwhile is as much as greater than 40,000. - SB
Jason Koon (right)
5:55pm: And we're back
Everybody is now back in action with 200/400/50 blinds and antes.--BW
| 5 | 200 | 400 | 50 |
5:13pm: Break time
The players are actually on their second 20-minute break of the day.--BW
5:13pm: Annnnnnd...action!Level 4 - Blinds: 150/300 (50 ante)
Let's be honest with one another here. It is the early levels of Day 1. It is not that there's no action, but in a room with 450 or so players, it's hard to be within the right spot on the right time.
Unless you locate Table 47.
That's where we find, sitting side-by-side-by-side the follow: Sam Grafton, Dominik Nitsche, and Andreas Hoivold. There there be action, friends.
It's hard to knock where to start, because every hand is a hand. There is not any limping. There are just raises, and thee could be very little folding. There appears to be no regard exactly for the pre-flop value of a hand. It is a post-flop table, and Nitsche is asking to get entangled almost every hand.
As we join the table, Nitsche has raised it to 700, Hoivoid has called, and Gregory Dupuy has decided to make it 2,100 out of the massive blind. Both Nitsche and Hoivold call without blinking. The flop caomes down J♣J♠7♣. Dupuy leads for 2,500 and gets two snap-folds. It's that easy.
So, move directly to the following hand where Nitsche again makes it 700. Dupuy, apparently enjoying the action, calls within the small blind. Now Byron Kaverman makes it 2,800 out of the large blind. It gets two quick folds.
Next hand...you know the deal. Nitsche makes it 700 to go, Hoivold calls, Marco Frenken calls, and Sam Grafton calls out of the massive blind. THe flop drops 5♦4♣4♦. Grafton and Nitsche both check and open the door for a 900 bet from Hoivold. Frenken release his hand, and great point he does, because Grafton is able to raise it to 2,200. Nitsche is again happy to carry (remember, we're post-flop...), but Hoivold doesn't believe Grafton yet. At the J♠ turn Grafton leads for 4,100 and gets Hoivold to name again. The river? J♥ Now, Grafton comes for 6,200 and Hoivold calls again. Grafton is quick to flip up 4♥3♦ for the win.
On the following hand, Nitsche cannot raise to 700 because he's within the big blind, so Hoivold does it for him under the gun. That is not going to forestall Grafton or Nitsche from playing out of the blinds. This one goes quick. It is a rainbow flop of babies, and Hoivold takes it down for a 700 bet.
The next hand is remarkable for various reasons. First, Dominik Nitsche doesn't play it. Second...well it goes like this. Frenken limps in, but Kaverman makes it 1,100 to play. Hoivold, now within the big blind, makes the decision. So does Frenken. They see an all club flop: 4♣7♣A♣. Frenken stabs at it for 600 and Kaverman calls. But wait only a second, because Hoivold has check-raised to 2,000. Only Frenken calls, and it seems badly for him. He pays on two consecutive streets to further enrich Hoivold who flopped the nuts with K♣9♣.
So, if you would like action, listed for the sound of raising, follow the sunshine of Sam Grafton's mustache, and convey your writing fingers. All of the action is at Table 47. --BW
4:50pm: Arrivals and departuresLevel 4 - Blinds: 150/300 (50 ante)
More and more players from the high rolling end of the poker spectrum are arriving, but one in all them just departed.While the likes of Jason Mericer, Kevin MacPhee, Jason Koon, and Steve O'Dwyer are taking their seats, Stephen Chidwick is leaving his, and making his strategy to the exit. - SB
4:20pm: Hard GraftonLevel 4 - Blinds: 150/300 (50 ante)
Filling the time in these early levels is often important. Phones help those seeking a handy guide a rough fix. Actually earlier I saw one player this phone while getting a massage by a therapist who was also on her phone.
For other players though they like conversation, players like Sam Grafton, and someday talk will turn to drinking.
Grafton has a brand new search for today. PARTIAL TO changing styles and retro-fashion, he sports the horn rims and moustache of the well-respected man of the 1960s, carried off with roughly post-modern sprezzatura.
But the conversation is set powerful drinking nations, of which Germany featured highly - or did, until Andreas Hoivold warned of the Norwegian Championship, telling a cautionary tale that held everyone's attention.
"Some strong nations involved, I'm sure" deadpanned Grafton, with the gravity of a sports analyst. Unprompted, and maybe tellingly, he then got as much as buy coffee for everybody. - SB
4:13pm: Meanwhile...table tennis!
As the primary Event grinds directly to its halfway point, the action outside is decidedly faster as table tennis Olympian Darius Knight is taking up all challengers. (He's playing nice, as near as we will be able to tell.)
| 4 | 150 | 300 | 50 |
4:03pm: Picking Kid Poker's brain
Today before the beginning of play, Daniel Negreanu offered what amounted to free lessons to anyone who desired to occur at 10:45am. Throughout the process his hour-long Q&A, Negreanu taken with how smaller-stakes players could begin to feel comfortable in bigger buy-in tournaments. Within the coming weeks, we'll bring you a few of that advice here. --BW
4:00pm: They come...and they goLevel 3 - Blinds: 100/200
As the sphere swells to 430 Day 1A entries, there were greater than 30 bust-outs within the early levels. Among them were Christoph Vogelsang and Jason Lavalee. --BW
3:57pm: Right this way, Mr. MercierLevel 3 - Blinds: 100/200
With only some minutes left within the third level of the day, WSOP Player of the year and Team PokerStars Pro Jason Mercier has arrived to play Day 1A of the primary Event. --BW
3:50pm: Hard luck story (Cont.)Level 3 - Blinds: 100/200
An update at the man we mentioned earlier, you know, the player with the worst seat attract the sector? Well it just got worse.
He happens to back onto the rail, at the other side of that is the Estrellas Main Event (read updates from that here).
Inevitably railbirds breach the stretchy perimeter and are pouring in to look at. The most efficient spot? That might be right behind our man.
He's keeping his cool, while man of substantial proportion uses him as a back rest. Luckily floor staff is to be had to transport people along, but crowd control is traditionally a losing battle, especially when there is a final table happening. - SB
3:30pm: A PERSON called OikonomouLevel 3 - Blinds: 100/200
Sometimes it isn't the best way a player plays a hand that stands out, but jus the player themselves.That would apply to Panagiotis Oikonomou.
Oikonomou is unquestionably easy to spot, not only for the mane of brown hair flowing all the way down to his chest, or for the beard, or the deep tan, but for a baritone that will match the perfect narrator at the Discovery Channel.
The remainder of the look is made of an extended sleeve t-shirt, jeans, and a big keychain, at the end of that is a big key - seriously big - which might only really unlock a church, or even a jail from the center ages.
But judging his appearance, that of somebody who have been on retreat for 20 years, I'm guessing the important thing unlocks something else entirely. Something that may be different in each of us, and that only we will discover ourselves: the important thing to Happiness.
Actually no, it's only a chain. No key. Dammit. He still stands proud though. - SB
3:20pm: Double Deeb!Level 3 - Blinds: 100/200 (Ante: 25)
Shaun Deeb has wasted no time getting things rolling here. Lower than four hours into the day, he's sitting on around 65,000, greater than double his starting stack. --BW
3:20pm: Still getting biggerLevel 3 - Blinds: 100/200 (Ante: 25)
As we make our way throughout the third level of the day, the Day 1A field entries now numbers 426. --BW
3:05pm: What's in Jason Koon's bag?Level 3 - Blinds: 100/200 (Ante: 25)
As we've noted intimately before, Jason Koon is a specimen. He's the image of health. He's an example to anyone who desires to live a healthy life. (And given his $1 million in within the SHRPO last week, he teach you a specific thing or two about poker.)
He's arrived for the principle Event with a bag stuffed with food he's cooked for himself. It (and plenty of hours of exercise) will save him from having a body just like the members of the PokerStars Blog who've recently been subsisting on snack bar hot dogs and hotel room minibar Toblerones.
When we passed him last, he had what gave the impression of...well, we didn't know what it looked like. A SNAPPY glance made it look as though he had a bag of crystal methamphetamine and was dipping a work of tree bar in it. Turns out...it's a work of nearly pure cacao and a bag of dried coconut flakes.
Million-dollar winner? Healthiest man within the room? Biggest smile you will discover? Bag of coconut flakes? That's Jason Koon, folks. --BW
2:50pm: Action resumesLevel 3 - Blinds: 100/200 (Ante: 25)
Everyone is now back in action with the primary antes of the day --BW
| 3 | 100 | 200 | 25 |
2:30pm: Break time
Players at the moment are at the first first break of the day. --BW
2:25pm: Big pot for Level 2
EPT Prague final table player Ilkin Amirov isn't trying to play small today. We wandered up at the table to peer 10,000 already within the pot on a 4♣4♦J♣5♠ board. He'd put out a 4,500 bet and Sergio Cabrera, after thinking for a bit, made the decision. The river brought the J♥, and Amirov quietly tapped the table in front of him. Cabrera had just 7,850 left in front of him. He pushed all of it in front of him. Amirov rose an inch out of his seat and cut the air along with his hand as though to say, "HAVE A LOOK AT this guy!"
The decision took about three minutes. After resting his head on one hand and grimacing a couple of times, Amirov finally pushed his cards forward and gave up the danger to win a pot worth greater than 25,000 in Level 2. --BW
2:10pm: Careful with those aces...Level 2 - Blinds: 75/150
It's early, and nobody desires to go broke with aces. Especially not Spain's Andres Nadal Boluda. Sitting within the small blind, he was facing a raise to 525 from France's Jeremy Sitbon. Boluda, holding two red aces, made it 1,100 to move and got the decision from Sitbon. On a 8♣6♣8♥ flop, Boluda led for 1,200. In came the call.
This is where things get...well...commentary aside, that is when the 8♠ hits the turn. You realize the sound a car makes while you stomp at the brakes on dry asphalt? That was Boluda, checking his eights filled with aces over to Sitbon after which simply calling a big gamble to 1,500. Say what you are going to. It's Level 2, and Boluda isn't about to move broke here.
But, lo! There! At the river! It's what? By goodness, that's right. It is the A♣. Angels fly! A choir sings! The sound of timpani goes boom-boom-boom!
And Boluda checks. Yes, yes, he does.
Sitbon now has to feel pretty good. Why? Well, he's just managed to river an entire house with A♠9♦. Not knowing what danger lurks around the table, ignorant of the large crocodile with the second one nuts in his claws, Sitbon ignores the likelihood he's crushed and puts out a 2,500 bet.
Oh, that poor man. That poor, poor man. He's never seen what he's about to look. He may never see it again.
Boluda simply called together with his aces full. Yes, yes he did.--BW
2:00pm: And Leon is getting laaaaaaaaarrrrger!Level 2 - Blinds: 75/150
The Day 1A field continues to grow. As of right now, there are 386 people signed as much as play this primary of 2 starting day flights. --BW
1:50pm: Vogelsang takes flightLevel 2 - Blinds: 75/150
What does a really perfect High Roller do when facing an all-in for his tournament life? He does exactly what the remainder of us do. He agonises about it and hopes for the best.
This can be a non-technical account of what Christophe Vogelsang just went through, in a hand that took off and continues to be flying straight towards the sun.
It got started properly when Majid Noubarian three-bet to 1,100 from the button. Vogelsang was within the small blind with pocket kings, and 4 bet 3,200. Noubarian, who plays while holding an unlit cigarette, and infrequently takes long draws on it, five bet 8,500. Vogelsang moved his chips around a bit and called. Noubarian took another heave.
The flop came 4♦6♣T♥
Vogelsang checked and Noubarian made it 5,000 to play shortly. Vogelsang called (although he thought the bet were 4K not 5K).
The turn was the 9♥. Another check from Vogelsang, and another insta-decision from Noubarian who moved all-in, and waving his cigarette forward to shed light on his intentions.
Vogelsang recoiled slightly. "WHEN YOU'VE GOT the most efficient hand in poker you win... otherwise".
What followed would take Vogelsang nearly ten minutes to conclude. A period of agonizing while Noubarian stared blankly on the board holding his cards a couple of millimetres off the table.
"You have ladies, or jacks..." said Vogelsang. "I DON'T BELIEVE I WILL BE ABLE TO fold this."
"You have flush draw?" said Noubarian perhaps thinking he must no less than say something.
"I told you what I have," replied Vogelsang. "I'm super strong. I CANNOT ever fold this."
A short time later Vogelsang had made little progress.
"Whatever you will have you played the hand very well."
Eventually the clock was called. In these cases you get the inevitable sense while watching that the clock will count down, the hand could be mucked, and you may never discover what the entire fuss was about. But with 20 seconds left at the count Vogelsang called.
Noubarian turned over A♥Q♥ for a flush draw. Vogelsang visibly perked up, showing his K♦K♥. There has been only one card to come.
The river: 4♥
That made Noubarian the flush.
"Yes! Yes!" said Noubarian as though watching football on television. Vogelsang made an involuntary "sheesh" noise, and his hands went to his head. You sense he was rightly gutted.
Noubarian took a heave on his cigarette. Vogelsang made a bee-line for the door. - SB
1:45pm: International relationsLevel 2 - Blinds: 75/150
It's slow going at Charlie Carrel's table, but he's passing the time chatting to Canada's Christopher Kruk. Kruk, who had an even WSOP this year and placed third in a $3,000 shootout, is outwardly vexed by America's tax system which wasn't kind to him. Carrel seemed shocked by the details.
"I thought America was the land of the free," he laughed. "Land of the taxed!"--BW
1:30pm: Early action loosey-gooseyLevel 2 - Blinds: 75/150
It's early, the stacks ate deep, and ace-high goes to be good much more often than will probably be down the road, so evidenced by a hand just played initially of Level 2. After satellite winner Antonio Perez limped in, Italy's Michele Guerrini raised to 1,100 out of the small blind. Both players checked throughout the flop and switch on a Q♣T♠4♥9♦ board. When the river came the T♥, Guerrini checked again, and Perez tossed out 2,000. Guerrini didn't think for long before making the decision. Perez didn't even wish to show his hand (apparently an unsuited 7 & 8), but he needed to. It was, no surprise not good against Guerrini's ace-high. --BW
| 2 | 75 | 150 | N/A |
1:05pm: Ever wondered what the worst seat in the home looks like?Level 1 - Blinds: 50/100
"What's the problem!?"
This was asked by a girl within the two seat of a table by the rail, who was speaking in an agitated fashion to someone she knew at the rail, and at a volume loud enough to wake the Super High Rollers.
"You're loud and you're driving everybody nuts!" said one lone voice. "I'm the one one saying it, but everyone thinks it."
This was from the player next to her, within the three seat. We cannot give away his name but he seems like a person coming to terms with the reality he's been drawn into the worst seat within the house.
"I did not have cards," she said by means of defence, both to him and to the tournament director asking her within the politest possible terms to close the hell up. Her friend at the rail, who kept coming backward and forward to speak to her, was either oblivious to protests, or just didn't care.
You might need met such a people before, individuals who undergo life not caring at what volume people hear their private conservations. This couple might well be the prototype on which all of the others are based.
She retook her seat, folded a hand, after which stood up directly behind the seat three player, the one position within the room in the direction of him that the seat she was originally in.
We have enormous sympathy for this guy, and we'll keep tabs on his progress inside the day. If he goes deep he'll have a "within the face of adversity" story befitting ESPN. - SB
12:45pm: Different event, same faceLevel 1 - Blinds: 50/100
There's not always much to mention at this point in a major Event, that time being halfway during the first level of play. As we've become conversant in there are gaps within the field, no tables have an entire complement, and pots are small. But there's always something to pick from the crowd.
Even if it's simply because they happen to be taller than most people.
Stephen Chidwick has the posture that yoga instructors promise you'll be able to have after a 10 week pay up front course. But greater than that, he has his game face. Actually it's possibly his normal face, because whether he's 23 minutes into the primary Event, or 23 levels right into a high roller his expression barely changes. The kind of event is irrelevant. It is all handled with the similar intensity. It's one you'd must say has worked well for Chidwick up to now. - SB
12:28pm: Paging the next players...Level 1 - Blinds: 50/100
While not everyone has shown up today, listed below are one of the vital people we think to take a seat for Day 1A.
Leo Fernandez, Christian Christner, Steve O`Dwyer, Pratyush Buddiga, Jason Lavallee, Adrian Mateos, Joseph Cheong, Shaun Deeb, Joe Serock, Pascal Lefrancois, Jack Salter, Chance Kornuth, Per Linde, Simon Persson, Max Silver, Andreas Hoivold, Sam Grafton, and Sam Chartier.--BW
12:15pm: Play underway...sort ofLevel 1 - Blinds: 50/100
No one shows up on time anymore. The primary event started QUARTER-HOUR ago, and there are few tables with greater than three or four people at them. That is Barcelona where the nights go long and morning is an abstraction. Also, we hear there has been a PokerStars party last night. That may make for a slow start for anyone who could have been involved.
To fill out the seats, Charlie Carrel has positioned a teddy bear within the seat to his right. Asked if the bear has any game, Carrel responded, "He's pretty good, but I'VE position on him. It's be a very tough day for him."
Smile, Teddy!
Among the others who've managed to turn up on time (and without soft toys): Stephen Chidwick, Juha Helppi, Vitaly Lunkin, Jani Sointula, and Paul Newey. --BW
| 1 | 50 | 100 | N/A |
11:55am: Play to start out soon
The EPT13 Main Event is scheduled to kick off in exactly a couple of minutes. Stick to us here for live coverage for the following 12 hours!--BW
Dealers prepping for the primary Event
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 EPT13 Barcelona Main Event: Stephen Bartley and Brad Willis. Photography by Neil Stoddart. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter:@PokerStarsBlog
Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: European Poker Tour]
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