European Poker Tour London -- Day 1A

Day 1A of the PokerStars European Poker Tour London main event saw a total of 339 players turn out for the first of two starting days at the Hilton Metropole. The room brimmed with tension, excitement, and anticipation as big names and Internet wizards mixed with online qualifiers and new faces for nine roller coaster levels of intense play.

Team PokerStars Pro did well throughout the day with members such as Thomas Bichon, Joep van den Bijgaart, and Alexander Kravchenko rising up the ranks quickly, while other members Greg Raymer, Arnaud Mattern, Jan Heitmann, Vicky Coren, and Ivan Demidov ended the day with healthy stacks also. Other names on the upper planes of the leader board include Irishman John O’Shea, Steven Levy, and Card Player publisher Barry Shulman.

Here is the top 10 in chips at end of play:

The day was not without its casualties however as the field was slashed to 146 by end of play. Some of those who hit the rail were Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss, Eric Liu, Allyn Jaffrey Shulman, Davidi Kitai, Faraz Jaka, Shawn Buchanan, EPT Copenhagen champion Anton Wigg, Greg Mueller, WSOPE main event finalist Roland de Wolfe, Benjamin Spindler, Chris Moorman, and Team PokerStars Pro players Marcel Luske and Luca Pagano.

While one event began, three were reaching their conclusions, meaning those nearing the end of the £1,000 no-limit hold’em event, the £2,000 European 8 Game Championships, and the £5,000 no-limit hold’em heads-up event were battling it out alongside those hoping to make it through the early stages of the main event.

Annette Obrestad topped a sell-out field capped at 64 in the £5,000 heads-up tournament. She banks £120,000 the night before she begins her main event journey. Team PokerStars Pro player Jason Mercier finished in third place in the 8 Game Champpioships on the eve of his main event starting day, leaving Chris Bjorin and Tim Finne to go heads up for the £55,200 first prize. Finally, EPT Vilmoura winner Toby Lewis faces European Masters of Poker Bulgaria champion Manig Loser heads up in the £1,000 event.

Day 1B will begin at noon local time (4 a.m. PST) tomorrow and more than 360 players are already registered. Check back then for more live coverage and video updates of the PokerStars EPT London main event.

For now, here is a Card Player TV video from late on day 1A featuring an interview with Annette Obrestad:

Official Day 1A Chip Counts:

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