9pm: Play concludes


The last three hands passed tonight without any major incidents to report. 93 players will return for tomorrow and we believe Dirk Richter is still top of the pile with 593,000 in chips. The wrap will be up shortly and the official chips counts will follow as well. — MC

8.49pm: Last three hands announced


The clock has been stopped with eight minutes showing and the final three hands of the hand announced. Radio silence to begin as we ready ourselves to get the chip counts and chip leaders. — RD

8.45pm: Introducing Antonio Palma


Antonio Palma looks like the player that is making the late dash to contend for the chip lead. The man from Portugal, who has been tucked away in the corner of the room all day, is up to nearly 600,000. He’s had no major live results before but did cash in this year’s EPT Grand Final, EPT London and WSOP Main Event for a combined total approaching $80,000. — RD

8.42pm: Playing the rush


Roberto Romanello just took care of Michael Anthony Moretto to increase his stack even more. He raised from late position and was committed to call the Canadian’s 35,000 push with 104. Moretto was in great shape with 44 but was in disbelief after seeing the board run Q1055J. “Sorry mate”, said the Brit before his opponent left. — MC

8.35pm: The philosophical musings of Roberto Romanello


’That’s where your mind tricks you,’ preached Roberto Romanello pointing towards his temple and, probably without realising the irony, the wig on his head. ’That’s where you have to step up a level,’ he finished replying to a tablemate that had asked why he wasn’t believing a play from one of the more solid players at the table.

‘The day you stop learning is the day that you stop winning. The best players in the world will admit that they are still learning,’ he said. From taking a look at the mammoth stack in front of him I’d say that Romanello is learning pretty fast. — RD

8.26pm: Prager finishes off Boeree


After crippling Liv Boeree with quad kings a few minutes ago (see 8.20pm below), Josh Prager has now bust her… with pocket kings. She open-raised with 78, Prager re-raised and the money went in—Boeree was down to around 25,000—and she got no help from the board. — SY

8.22pm: Grinder of the day award


If we were able to give away such awards then my vote would go to Chaz Chattha. His stack has floated somewhere between 20,000 and 40,000 for most of the day. I hope he has dental insurance as his teeth much be down to the gums with the way he’s been grinding. He’s just managed to double up to 55,000 and that feels like a big stack to him right now, even if it’s only 14 big blinds.

He was at in the big blind and called all-in with pocket fours after the button had set him in with queen-three. Chattha faded the three-outer to keep hopes of a cash finish alive. — MC

8.20pm: Boeree crippled by quads


Team PokerStars Pro Liv Boeree has been dumped down to 26,000 after a mighty cooler of a hand against Josh Prager. We did not see all the action, but the short version is that Boeree had pocket sevens, Prager had pocket kings and the board was A7KKQ.

It appears there was a little odd table talk by Prager, who has, er, been enjoying several beers during the course of the afternoon/evening. He asked the dealer what the minimum bet was after the flop, and announced he was betting five times the minimum bet (20,000), which Boeree called. As the river was dealt, Prager said he was shoving, and 100,000 went over the line. EPT San Remo champion Boeree was always calling with her full house, and she was horrified to see Prager turn over quads. — SY

8.16pm: Nitsche knocks out Taddia


Matteo Taddia didn’t look happy that his AQ had been beaten by Dominik Nitsche’s J8 all-in. Nitsche had open shoved his big stack from the button into the short stacks in the blinds and Taddia just so happened to wake up with a premium hand and tossed his last 60,000 into the middle.

The Italian rose to his feet as soon as the 8K7 flop was dealt as if knowing that the turn and river wouldn’t help him. They didn’t. Just 102 players left and that means 22 spots until the money. — RD

8.10pm: Max value for Roberto


Roberto Romanello just got maximum value out of a hand against Kirill Telezhkin. The Welshman raised to 7,500 and his Russian opponent defended from the big blind to see a 10QK flop. Romanello continued with a 7,500 bet and was check-called. The turn came 7 and Romanello upped the ante with a 35,300 bet. Call. The river came 4 and Romanello faced a third check which he treated to a 103,900 bet.

His opponent looked to the skies, blew out his cheeks and made the call. Romanello turned over AJ for the nuts to claim the huge pot. He’s up to 520,000 chips now and vying for the overnight lead. — MC

8pm: Stani flops the nuts


It’s a nice feeling to flop the nuts and even a better feeling to get shoved on when you do. EPT Tallinn Kevin Stani flopped the nut flush with KQ on a 10A7 flop and led into it for 12,500. His opponent, Orpen Kisacikoglu, moved all-in for around 70,000. There appeared to be close to 25,000 in the pot pre-flop. Stani calmly announced the call and showed the nuts. Kisacikoglu groaned as he tabled JK. Running deuces did nothing to change the outcome.

‘Easy call, right?’ said Marcin Horecki.

‘Yeah, I’ve had harder calls to make,’ replied Stani as he raked in the pot.

‘He wasn’t exactly dead,’ Fabrice Soulier chipped in, ‘If the 8 and 9 comes…’

Stani paused for a moment thinking back to the flop: ‘No, not dead, but I was pretty happy,’ he said as he stacked up his 200,000 stack. — RD

7.55pm: Big double for MacPhee


EPT Berlin winner Kevin MacPhee is right back in contention after a key double up. On a [10c]977 board, MacPhee bet 30,000 and got a call from Guillaume Darcourt, one of the more active players at the table. On the 4 river, MacPhee, hidden behind his green hoodie and hunched over his stack, announced he was all-in. It was 103,000 more.

Darcourt thought, thought some more, counted out the call, thought again, and then made the call. MacPhee turned over 99 for the full house and that was good for a double up to around 340,000. Darcourt slipped 150,000. — SY

7.45pm: Prager and Zapletin


I wrote a little earlier about how Josh Prager seemed to be needling Josh Zapletin and it almost paid off big time on the last hand before the break (I’m catching up). The Russian had defended his big blind and check-called 11,000 on the 9355 turn and looked awfully tempted to call the 25,000 on the 4 river. Prager turned over KK as he chipped up to 245,000. — RD

7.40pm: Last hurrah


Players are settling back in their seats for the last level of the day. A total of 110 of them remain from the 254 who began today. Remember, the money kicks in at 80th place, but we’re unlikely to hit that before the end of the day. — SY

7.25pm: Break


That’s the end of the level. There will now be a 15-minute break. — SY

7.22pm: Ronan, Ronan, Ronan


A big blow to Ronan Montfort whose chips now sit with Nicolas Babel ion his immediate left. The chips went in, Montfort calling Babel’s shove with AK to Babel’s AQ. The board came 5Q3Q6 to leave the Frenchman with just 55,000. Babel moves up to 130,000. — SB

7.20pm: Queens will do it


Olivier Daeninckx kicked off a busy hand with a raise to 7,500. When it came around to Rasmus Nielsen, he made the call. In the next seat, however, was Tobias Reinkemeier, and he re-raised to 25,600. Back to Daeninckx. He checked back at his cards and announced he was all-in. It was for 63,700 total. Nielsen folded, but Reinkemeier made the call quickly.

Daeninckx: QQ


Reinkemeier: AJ

The flop came 3K[10c], meaning if Daeninckx did hit a set it would give a winning straight to Reinkemeier. The 8 turn and [10d] ensured that didn’t happen, and Daeninckx moved up to 138,000. — SY

7.15pm: Best poker moment

7.12pm: Needling Prager


Josh Prager, as I think has already been mentioned, is having a couple of drinks and really seems to be enjoying himself. Although others at his table appear to be smiling, such as EPT Leader Board Trojan Fernando Brito, one Mr Kirill Zapletin is not.

‘How many outfits do you have?’ asked Prager to Zapletin, who either didn’t understand or chose not to. ‘You know, you had the leather jacket and your hair down now you’ve got your hair up and no glasses. All those different looks…,’ he added trailing off at the end. Another player helped to translate and still Zapletin refused to bite. — RD

7.08pm: Three-bet, shrug, call four-bet shove


Those were the actions of Marius Heiene who made it clear that he was never getting away from his A[k]. Day 1A chip leader Elias Brussianos had opened the pot for 8,000 before Heiene had three-bet to 23,000. Kanit, who was sat next to Heiene, then pushed forward his stack of yellow chips to show he was all-in for around 100,000. Brussianos passed and Heiene shrugged and got his chips in.

The board ran out 26AK4 to knock Kanit out who swiftly rose out of his chair and left the tournament floor. Heiene must be on around 200,000. — RD

7.05pm: Calling time on yourself


The board read Q3Q210 and the clock was called. Matt Affleck had the decision to make, facing a bet of 30,000 from Cengiz Ulusu (spell check name Zulus). Affleck though had called the clock on himself, not trusting himself to bring the hand to a swift conclusion.

The time counted down and Ulusu waited. Had the tables been turned Ulusu might have chosen to flip a coin, as he did at the EPT Dortmund final table, rather than call the clock, but this was Affleck’s dime, so to speak.

“I know you’re going to show it right in my face,” he said, predicting the inevitable. Then he folded.

Ulusu showed 7 as Affleck tapped the table. He’s down to 170,000 while Ulusu moves up to 260,000. – SB

7pm: The runaway train


As described down at 6.30pm, Francisco Torres is being supported here by his toy Thomas the Tank Engine. His little chum is working wonders as Torres just doubled up again. He had open-raised to 11,000 before Tayfun Rodoplu bumped it up to 24,800. Kevin Stani then four-bet to around 60,000. Torres moved all-in and only Stani called:

Torres: AA


Stani: KK

Torres stayed on track on the 67Q35 board, while Stani was shunted back to around 120,000. Choo-choo! — SY

6.56pm: Lewis saved on the river


Toby Lewis has got some of those chips back off Paul Knebel after a double-up. Yavor Anastasov Tutev opened the pot with a raise from the cut-off before Lewis shoved from the button and Knebel re-shoved from the big blind to isolate Lewis. It worked as Tutev folded.

Lewis: K7


Knebel: A10

The board ran 9Q557 hitting Lewis’ seven just in time. He took down a small pot on the next hand to move to more than 100,000 in chips. — MC

6.47pm: Nitsche four-bet


LAPT winner Dominik Nitsche is one of those players that you feel has an EPT trophy in him somewhere (not physically, that would just be odd and more than a little libellous). The young German consistently puts in good performances and it looked for a little while that EPT Barcelona was going to be his moment but he crashed out in 23rd for €20,000.

Here in Prague he has just pushed Alexander Luber off of a hand with a minimum four-bet to 22,500. Luber laughed it off as Nitsche raked in the pot sheepishly smiling. Ahhh, those crazy young online players. — RD

6.40pm: Doing the rounds


Josh Prager (spell check name Prayer) has switched from wine to beer for this new level, his wife Helen is sticking to wine. Elsewhere Roberto Romanello now has enough chips to get ornamental with his stack while Pierre Neuville has changed his shirt and jumper from pink to blue, perhaps so as not to blend in with pink-jumpered Salvatore Bonavena in the seat next to him. A table along William Ross tries to maintain a conversation with Kevin MacPhee next to him, while the Thai massage therapist has him in a half-nelson. – SB

Josh Prager

6.35pm: Lewis down, then up a little


Toby Lewis has been left with just less than 20,000 chips after dangling with Paul Knebel. Lewis raised from under-the-gun and faced a three-bet from the German, sat two seats along. His answer was to move all-in but he was snap called.

Lewis: AJ


Knebel: AK

The board ran 43QK6 to send the pot, worth over 200,000, the way of the German.

Two hands later Melanie Weisner opened with AA and called when Lewis shoved with A2. Lewis lucked out on the 64359 board, making a straight. His thin hopes of a second EPT title this season just improved with a 15 big blind stack to play with. — MC

6.30pm: Thomas works his magic


Francisco Torres, the proud owner of the toy Thomas the Tank train, just moved all-in for his last 35,000, pushing his chips over the line on his engine. Choo-choo! Everyone folded until it got around to Dominique Franchi, who made the call.

Torres turned over KK—one at a time, mind you—while Franchi was heading for the sidings with AJ. The flop came 38K and Torres let off a yelp of delight. The 2 turn and 9 river ensured he stayed ahead.

Torres the tank engine driver is now building up a head of steam, with 75,000 chips. Choo-choo! — SY

6.17pm: Norinder cracks queens


’I’m sorry,’ said Mikael Norinder and he seemed to be fairly genuine about it as he reached out his hand to Jasid Majid, whose queens he had just cracked with jacks. Norinder, who we have seen near the press pen asking for football scores a number of times, is now up to 150,000. — RD

6.10pm: Play restarts


A new level. Let’s make this a great one.

Having been instructed not to start this post off with a picture of the weather, here’s a picture of Salvatore Bonavena, our new Agony Aunt, who will now take your questions…

Salvatore Bonavena, c/o PokerStars Blog, Prague.

PokerStars Blog reporting team in Prague (in order of errrors pointed out in the comments box):Stephen Bartley (1, honest mistake), Marc Convey (1, sloppy mistake), Rick Dacey (0, but it’s only a matter of time), Simon Young (0, we’re too afraid to tell him)

This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.

2.56pm: All rise


Break time at the end of level 11.

2.55pm: Kicking off


Controversy over on table two where tempers are frayed between Marc Gork and Christophe Pereira.

The issue arose after comments made by Pereira during an earlier visit from the floor. Pereira received a penalty for colourful language but did not get up from his seat, much to the irritation of players at the table.

The floor staff arrived to remind Pereira of his obligation and after a couple of reminders he got up to leave, allowing play to continue.

That meant Giacomo Maisto’s all-in with AK, called by Dan Murariu with QQ.


The board ran K6265.

Maisto whooped “Come on bibi,” in a strong Italian accent and stacked up his new chips, as the blast of Vivaldi signalled the end of level 11. — SB

2.50pm: Pagano takes another one


Luca Pagano holds the record for most number of cashes on the EPT and he’s currently setting himself up for another one. Antoine Saout opened for 3,600 and Pagano three-bet to 9,000 from late position. Saout made the call.

The Italian Team PokerStars Pro was checked to on the J6K flop and bet 10,700. Saout quickly passed as Pagano chipped up to 80,000. — RD

2.47pm: Big bet did the trick


Praz Bansi has doubled up to around 65,000 through his neighbour Ladislav Mika. The two were in the blinds and the action had reached the river with the board reading 3986 Q. Mika checked to Bansi who dwelled before moving all-in for his last 20,200. Mika separated the calling chips from his stack and made the call. Bansi tabled 75 for a straight and took the pot as the local player folded. — MC

2.43pm: Toth aggression


Fatima Moreira de Melo—have we mentioned she is wearing a leopard print catsuit?—can’t find a decent spot and is struggling to improve her stack of 35,000. Team PokerStars Pro Richard Toth opened from the cut-off with a raise to 3,500 before De Melo re-raised to 11,000 from the small blind. If she hoped that would do the trick, she was wrong. Toth re-raised again to around 80,000.

De Melo tried for info. “Will you show if I fold?” she asked. No reply. She folded, Toth did not show. — SY

2.35pm: Off the Richter scale


Overnight chip leader Dirk Richter has shot through the 400,000 mark. No one else is even close to him at the moment. — SY

2.26pm: Boeree insta-fold


Pavel Lipa opened from middle position for 3,500 and Liv Boeree called in the cut-off. Neither of the blinds called (which included Praz Bansi). Neither player bet the 8J2 flop but a 10 on the turn was enough for Lipa to lead 6,000 and Boeree to call.

If the A was good for Lipa, who bet 10,500, then it definitely wasn’t for Boeree who insta-folded with a flick of the finger. The Team PokerStars Pro is sat on 135,000. — RD

2.24pm: Fold and refresh


With the tendency for players to fold hands, then browse the internet on Blackberries, iPods and iPads, it’s a wonder they don’t just stay at home and play online. Regardless, as three players at his table do just that Ilkin Amirov (spell check name Amigo), from Azerbaijan, moved all-in behind a bet of 5,000 from Fabrice Soulier. To total was enough to make it all in for the Frenchman to call, which caused him some irritation. Soulier passed, dropping down to 31,000. — SB

2.20pm: De Melo setback


Team PokerStars SportStar Fatima Moreira de Melo—have we mentioned she is wearing a leopard print catsuit today?—bet 3,500 and got a call from Emilliano Bono and Yury Kerzhapkin. The flop was 738 and all three checked. On the A turn, Bono bet 6,400 and De Melo called. The river was 6 and again De Melo called a 6,400 bet, only to be shown 33 for the set.

Had we mentioned De Melo is in a leopard skin catsuit? — SY

2.15pm: Jorgensen out


He’d been battling with a short-stack since yesterday, and now Theo Jorgensen is out. Day 1A chip leader Elias Brussianos raised to 3,500 and Antonio Buonanno called before Team PokerStars Pro Jorgensen moved all-in for 15,700. When it was folded back to Brussianos, he re-raised to 100,000 to isolate:

Buonannos: 66


Jorgensen: A8

The Dane was probably in better shape than he had hoped, but the board ran Q[10c]74 to send him home. “Good luck everyone,” he said as he walked off. — SY

2.13pm: We’re going to beat Bartley up


Another top horse tip from Stephen Bartley, another lump of cash lost by Team PokerStars Blog. When will learn to stop taking any notice of anything Bartley says, particularly when it comes to horses? — SY

2.12pm: Two in-a-row while it continues to snow


Wild celebrations from Marc Gork prompted us to see why he was celebrating but he was busy winning the next pot so we had to wait a minute before he could fill us in. He put down his book of poetry to explain how he moved up to 205,000 in chips.

He raised from early position with K9 and was called by Dmitry Vitkind in the small blind to go to a Q⁷4 flop. Gork’s 4,500 c-bet was raised to 12,500 by the Russian before Gork moved all-in. Vitkind thought for a while and called all-in with ace-queen. He couldn’t stay ahead though as Gork hit a king on the turn and a club on the river to take the lot.

The very next hand Gork raised, was called in one spot and re-raised in another. Gork moved all-in and both opponents folded. He flashed AK and finished stacking his chips. — MC

2.04pm: Kisacikoglu up to 280,000


’I’ve got a jack. I’ve got to call,’ said Fintan Gavin with top pair. Unfortunately for him he had kicker problems with a suited six against Orpen Kisacikoglu’s ace kicker. It was quite a large pot – closer to 200,000 than 100,000 – and Kirill Zapletin, who was sat to Gavin’s right, didn’t seem to believe his eyes. He sat shaking his head for a good minute after Gavin had walked away. To be fair the Russian is a player on the tighter side of things so calling off with a weak top pair would seem like madness to him.

Kisacikoglu is up to 280,000. — RD

2.02pm: Weisner makes a move


Melanie Weisner will not be on PokerStars qualifier Jan Bendik’s Christmas card list. On a 328 flop, she made it 4,900 and then called when Bendik raised to 11,700. The turn was 8 and now Weisner checked. Bendik bet 17,300, sending Weisner into the tank. When she emerged, it was to raise to nearly 35,000. Bendik tapped the table to acknowledge the good hand, and folded. Weisner showed Q7 for nothing. — SY

1.55pm: Raise to induce?


Toby Lewis’s stack headed south for the first two levels but he’s managed a double-up since his return from break. He told me that he min raised with A8 from the button and called all-in when Paul Knebel shoved from the big blind with Q8. Lewis up to 66,000 now. — MC

1.50pm: Sheer Kabrhel


Martin Kabrhel is out. The former EPT Prague side event winner is now free to roam where he is most successful, falling to the hand of former November Niner Antoine Saout. Kabrhel shoved with Q10 which Saout called with ace-nine.

The board ran ⁹²⁷[a]⁷ to send the Czech to the rail. – SB

1.40m: Keiner v Jorgensen round two


Team PokerStars Pros Michael Keiner and Theo Jorgensen were sat next to each other all of yesterday and they’ve been redrawn just one seat away from each other today. On the last hand before the break Jorgensen had three-bet to 6,500 and Keiner moved all-in for 28,000. No call from Theo and Michael keeps chipping up. — RD

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 800-1,600, ANTE 200

1.22pm: Level ends


That’s the end of the level. Players are taking a 15 minute break.

1.20pm: Rocky Roche


A minute before the break Peter Roche bet 5,000 in middle position only for Hugo Lemaire to move all-in for 30,200. Roche called showing pocket sevens to Lemaire’s pocket jacks. The board ran K22QJ to double up Lemaire. Roche down to 92,000. – SB

1.17pm: Lewis all-in


EPT Vilamoura winner Toby Lewis just shoved all-in for 23,000 from the button after a cut-off raise from Yavor Anastasov Tutev. Lewis seemed to be happy with his decision and Tutev, well, didn’t seem to be sure whether he should be happy or not. He held his cards up to muck then brought them back down before finally tossing them to the dealer. Lewis is up to 28,000 for a little over 20 big blinds. — RD

1.15pm: Old faces, new surroundings


I’m going to let you into a secret, Team PokerStars Pro Liv Boeree didn’t used to be very good at poker. I know it’s hard to believe but we all have to start somewhere. She mainly learnt her trade at the former Gutshot poker club in London which was a training ground for many of London’s future poker stars (including Bartley and I!). Two players she battled back in the day were two players she’s had to battle here in Prague.

For most of yesterday she was out of position to Laurence Houghton but came through that test. Today she is out of position to another formidable opponent – Praz Bansi and he just got the better of her in round one. The action folded to Boeree on the button and she raised to 2,700 before Bansi shoved for 24,700. She though for a while before open folding K10 saying she was a nit. The call would’ve been for about a third of her remaining stack and she decided to wait for a better spot. — MC

1.13pm: See you Cirianni


Francesco Cirianni (spell check name Biryani) is out, effectively ruining what was a memorable table draw. His departure was fitting for a poker warrior, his hand massively obliterated in Viking style, certain to allow him entry into Valhalla.

Holding pocket eights, Cirianni moved all in against countryman Marco Leonzo who called with pocket fours. The flop came ⁸⁴⁴, a flop that would make a lesser man cry. But instead Cirianni congratulated his victor and tootled off to the rail. We certainly salute him. – SB

1.10pm: Luber loser


Alexander Luber opened for 2,500, getting callers in small blind Nikolaos Levakis and big blind Rob Hollink, the only player in the hand who isn’t originally identified with a player number.

They each saw a flop of 9A7 which the blinds checked to Luber who, from the Arnaud Mattern school of extreme poker, plays with his left arm in plaster. He bet 5,000 which Levakis and Hollink called for a a 4 turn. Again, they checked to Luber who bet another 13,500. This time Hollink left it to Levakis to call for a 3 river card.

Again Levakis checked. Luber thought for a moment and then moved all-in for 23,500. Levakis did some of his own thinking, then called. Luber turned over AQ to ruin Levakis’s day. Angry with himself Levakis looked once more at his cards, as if it were the first time he’d seen them. No good. He’s down to around 25,000 while Luber moves up to around 75,000. – SB

1.05pm: Leopard does not change spots


Have we mentioned that Fatima Moreira de Melo is wearing a leopard skin catsuit today? To be honest, it’s worth repeating, and I’ve dispatched our snapper Neil Stoddart on a mission to record this happy day for posterity.

Anyway, back to the poker. Hugo Lemaire opened with a raise to 8,000 before De Melo pounced with a re-raise to 15,000. Lemaire folded. How could he not believe a woman in a leopard skin catsuit? Have we mentioned that De Melo is wearing a leopard skin catsuit… — SY

1pm: Worst hand wins


On a 625 flop, Peter Roche had bet 10,000 and Eyal Yunger called from the next seat along. But then Guillaume Darcourt re-raised to 27,000. Roche thought for a while and gave it up, but Yunger moved all-in for around 45,000 total. Insta call:

Yunger: AA


Darcourt: 34

Darcourt had flopped the nuts, and stayed ahead on the J turn and 8 river.

“Unbelievable,” said Roche. “I folded pocket kings.”

Darcourt moves up to around 190,000. — SY

12.55pm: Wake up!


Team PokerStars Pro Juan Manuel Pastor has the look of a man who has not had enough sleep. Baggy-eyed, disheveled hair… he looks just like me. But he perked up a little as this action played out at his table…

PokerStars qualifier Dan Murariu made it 2,600 from early position before Richard Gryko made it 7,200 from the next seat along. Murariu, who was covered by Gryko, gave the Englishman an indignant look before four-betting to 18,600, leaving around 60,000 behind. Now it was Gryko’s turn to look indignant, but after counting out his stack, and thinking for a minute, he decided to let it go. — SY

12.54pm: A video. Oh yes


And it talks about the start of the day. Oh yes…

12.52pm: Strange fold


Those late position tussles can create some peculiar hands but this one left me scratching my head. Stephane Albertini opened from the cut-off and was three-bet to Lennart Holz to 6,200. Albertini came back over the top for 14,600 and Holz made the call.

Albertini fired 14,000 at the 544 and Holz moved all-in. Albertini had around 20,000 left and was being laid close to four to one on the 80,000 pot. No good for Albertini. He mucked. — RD

12.42pm: Weisner not fazed by big pair


Melanie Weisner’s day has started well by busting Nikolay Karman. Karman was short stacked and held QQ which was ahead of the New Yorker’s AJ. The board changed all that though as it ran 288A8 to pair her ace. She’s up to 125,000 as a result. – MC

12.40pm: Lucky hand


EPT Berlin champion Kevin MacPhee has wasted little time today in doubling up to 90,000. He raised with 43 and called when three-bet by Frederik Jensen to see the [a][q][j] flop containing two spades. The action went check-check and K fell on the turn. MacPhee led for 9,800 and called when Jensen set him in with pocket tens for a straight – drawing dead. MacPhee added “I can’t fold a hand I won an EPT with.” — MC

12.37pm: Boeree out flops kings


There are some players here at the EPT, which I could name but won’t, that would whoop and howl in flagrant disregard of poker etiquette when flopping QQ6 with AQ all-in against kings. Liv Boeree is certainly not one of them.

Pierre Fehner opened the pot for 2,600 and was called by Richard Kapalo in middle position before Boeree squeezed from the cut-off. Fehner moved all-in over the top for 27,700 total and Boeree obliged with the call. A queen appeared as the door card and as the flop opened up it revealed a second queen. Boeree simply gave a little nod of the head as if to say; ‘Yup, that will do it.’ And indeed it did with the A on the river following the 5 turn to fill Boeree’s house and push her stack up to 90,000. ‘Unlucky,’ said Boeree as she lightly rapped the table. — RD

12.30pm: Party like it’s 2008


Tamas Lendvai just took a sip of red bull. It’s probably a good idea, for he’ll spend the day up against not only Salvatore Bonavena, but his friends from that memorable Prague win are also at the same table. Alfonso Amendola, his most easy to spot railbird, and yes, Francisco Cirianni, who, before his name was known, was once immortally referred to as Orange Jumper Brown Scarf guy.

It’s an amazing scene, almost an EPT reunion special where the combatants of that memorable final recount the experiences of that day. Where’s Andrew Chen when you need him?

As a colleague on the blog responded, on hearing of this remarkable draw: “It’s a railers dream!” Indeed it is. — SB

12.25pm: Just good friends


Team PokerStars Pros Theo Jorgensen and Michael Keiner had such a good time yesterday that they fiddled with the very essence of fate to make sure they were drawn together today. They’re both fairly short stacked but with the support of the other they can get through anything.

Joregensen just three-bet all-in for 18,300 after a Bruno “Kool Shen” Lopes raised to 2,700. The French rapper thought for a while but folded. — MC





12.20pm: Choo-choo


Francisco Torres has a little toy train engine sitting in front of him today. But it’s not just a toy – Torres puts the train to work by putting his chips on top of it and pushing it over the line when he makes a bet.

A whole new meaning to the word ‘railing’, then. — SY

12.15pm: Richter gets Richer


Dirk Richter had a stellar rise to the top of the chip count right at the death last night; so fast in fact that we did not really have chance to cover him. He seemed an obvious first stop for my first tour of the tournament floor today, and he was already in action.

The flop was Q83 and Nikolay Losev had check-called Richter’s 10,000 bet. The turn was Q and once again Losev called when Richter bet another 10,000. Finally, on the 8 river, Losev took a stab himself, betting 20,000. Richter was having none of that, and re-raised to 40,000.

Losev mucked quickly and Richter showed him Q[10d] for the full house. Richter is now up to 340,000 – a monstrous lead over the rest of the field. — SY

12.09pm: Busto


Already there have been two eliminations. It’s not clear who was first but it’s a toss up between Team PokerStars Pro Toni Judet and Christoffer Sonesson. — SB

12.08pm: Cards in the air


Play starts on Day 2.

11.55am: Everything ready for Day 2


We have our tea, the pencils are sharpened, our shoes shined the field of 254 players is slowly starting to arrive. Day two of EPT Prague is just minutes away; six levels of 75 minutes each and apparently no dinner break. That means if you want the full EPT experience from your own home eat only chocolate covered raisins and imitation Pringles until about 9 o’clock tonight.

We’re due to start at noon. We’ll have coverage all the way through. Who will be the first to mention Fatima Moreira de Melo’s leopard skin cat suit? Not to mention Kiril Zapletin’s squirrel-fur shoulder epaulettes. — SB

The tournament room

PokerStars Blog reporting team in Prague (according to player card):Rick Dacey (3003), Simon Young (3005), Marc Convey (3002) and Stephen Bartley(3004)

This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.

Day 1B has come to an end in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic and one time heart-beat of Bohemia. It’s from here that the first Bohemians emerged, travelling through on their way west. The same could be said of Dirk Richter, the surprise leader tonight, taking a week-long stop in these parts before joining the airborne wagon train to the PCA in January.

After yesterday’s cookie-cut day at the office, Richter; who bagged up a staggering 296,700 at the close after an aces v kings v nines finale, led a much more relaxed affair that started with 372 and ended with 169 players. While Richter’s name might not be the most oft quoted, the field was filled with all the familiar faces that for years now have been embedded in this travelling roadshow.

Roberto Romanello, among those chasing the leader

Among the field were the hardcore advocates of this non-traditional lifestyle; men and women, here for EPT Bohemia, linked in spirit to generations of free spirits before them, each with no ties or obligations, dubious political affiliations, and living somewhere between extreme wealth and involuntary poverty.

Crowds of players

There may not be the beads of the traditional Bohemian way, but the Dandies are here, sparkling in home grown t-shirts at Vegas Mall prices, as well as poker’s avant-garde, the likes of Dario Minieri and Laurence Houghton, who today spent much of their time converting non-believers into free-thinking loose-aggressives.

Dario Minieri

You just have to look hard enough to see the cast was all here today.

Marc Gork and his poetry, Marcel Luske and his tweeted shorthand philosophy. While Peter Hedlund was the life of the party, Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier floated above everyone, a free spirit on another level entirely.

Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier

Add to that the likes of Liv Boeree and Fatima Moreira de Melo, to whom the men with beards could congregate around. We were an acoustic guitar and some fairy lights away from a bunker in Haight-Ashbury.

Liv Boeree

Fatima Moreira de Melo

So who is still here from that crowd, to be found sprawled on a friend’s sofa or sleeping in the bath tub when the sun comes up on Day 2 tomorrow?

Roberto Romanello came close to the lead tonight, and most assumed him to be leading into the stretch before Richter put an end to that. Romanello finished on 196,500, slightly behind yesterday’s leader Elias Brussianos, who had bagged up 199,600.

The result puts Richter ahead overall, as the 85 survivors from yesterday merge to make tomorrow’s players list 254 names long.

Behind Richter, Brussianos and Romanello is a crowd committed to the cause. Mozen Teyfel (188,900), Laurence Houghton (188,800), Drasutis Narmontas (187,200) and Tobias Reinkemeier (174,500) are all within sight of the leaders and the capable talents of Helen Prager (128,600) and Melanie Weisner (113,700) are not far behind.

Laurence Houghton (left) and Roberto Romanello

Helen Prager

Elsewhere a troop of Team PokerStars Pros will be back for a Day 2 sit-in, including Florian Langmann (90,800), Luca Pagano (68,800), Boeree (59,700), Salvatore Bonavena (55,200), Moreira de Melo (52,200), Michael Keiner (27,900), Theo Jorgensen (18,700) and short-stacked Toni Judet (7,600).

Theo Jorgensen

Along the way we lost many a campaigner. Luske, Minieri (whose ten-hand berserker charge was detailed at 4.55pm in the level 5 & 6 post), and Grospellier all went, as did Johnny Lodden, Ville Wahlbeck, Thomas Bichon, Martin Hruby and Nacho Barbero.

Martin Hruby

All that, and the incidental details in between, can be found at the links below, while chip counts for the day can be found on the chip count page.

Level 1 & 2 updates


Level 3 & 4 updates


Level 5 & 6 updates


Level 7, 8 & 9 updates

Play continues tomorrow when the field unites as one for Day 2 at the Prague Hilton. In the meantime allow us to point you in the direction of our foreign bloggers, whoever they are, writing in German, Dutch and Italian. Our thanks also to photographer Neil Stoddart.

Dag Palovic, who lost a prop bet to Martin Hruby, being transformed into PokerStars’ customer of the month, earlier today

We’ll be back at 12 noon local time on Wednesday. Until then, peace, and good night from Prague.

This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.

6.45pm: Break time


I know a poker player in Las Vegas who when playing poker in a casino will wash his hands before using the bathroom, so concerned he is about the smorgasbord of germs that have travelled through his hands while riffling.

Elsewhere tournaments have been populated by players from Asia wearing facemasks making the rest of us wonder if there’s been a small pox outbreak. Germs are everywhere and you can’t avoid them.

One player might be trying though. Huseyin Erbay from the Czech Republic plays wearing white gloves, the kind of gloves that magicians use to make doves disappear. He just moved all-in and, magic or no magic, he’s back up to 20,000, which he seemed pleased about. That takes him into the dinner break with a stack to return to.

Players are filing out for the dinner break at the end of level six. Play restarts at around 8pm local time. – SB

6.39pm: Must be nice to be Max


When you get two monsters with two relatively short stacks it’s always going to go in. Thatr’s just happened between Team PokerStars Pro Max Lykov and EPT Grand Final winner Nicolas Chouity. Lykov had Chouity covered, but not significantly, when it went in with Lykov’s KK to Chouity’s AA. Lykov caught a set on the 710K flop and the outdraw was complete when the Russian turned quads with the final king in the deck. Chouity took it gracefully and the pair knuckle-bumped before he left the tournament floor.

Lykov is back up to his 30,000 starting stack. — RD

6.32pm: Reinkemeier runs good


Tobias Reinkemeier is up to 155,000 after getting very lucky against Chaz Chattha. There was around 14,000 in the middle and the board read 8497 at the turn. Chattha led for 10,500 and Reinkemeier called after some thought. The river came an interesting looking 6 and the Brit checked to face an 18,000 bet from the German. Chattha shook his head and threw in the call. Reinkemeier tabled K10 for a straight flush. Chattha flashed the A and looked to the skies. He’s down to 17,000 now. — MC

6.27pm: No push from Puchkov


Konstantin Puchkov finished third at EPT Barcelona just a couple of weeks ago and is cantering along nicely on 65,000. The Russian horse trainer just had to lay a hand down on a J449 board and didn’t look thrilled to do so. — RD

6.25pm: A Sevo salvo


Vlado Sevo, the man who bears more than a striking resemblance to the former Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police John Stalker, just sent Bulgaria’s Miroslav Krasimirov Rizov back to Bulgaria after an odd run of events.

Sevo opened for 1,050 and Rizov lobbed in 5,025 intending to call. Only the rules say that’s a raise. Rizov conceded and play went on. Very quickly actually. Sevo then announced all-in and Rizov said call in response, moving all-in.

He showed QQ to Sevo’s A10. But the board ran K8AAK to send Rizov to the rail. – SB

6.15pm: Sweaty kings


Andreas Berggren from Sweden and Team PokerStars Pro Florian Langmann both got all in with pocket kings. Langmann had Berggren covered and was holding K, so a third heart on the 6387 board gave Berggren an uncomfortable sweat. The river was an uneventful Q and they chopped.

Langmann has been going along nicely all day and is now up to 70,000. — SY

6.10pm: From Barcelona to Prague


We’ve already mentioned how Guiseppe Pantaleo, who finished fifth in Barcelona last month for €170,000, is doing well today, up to around 120,000. Konstantin Puchkov, who finished third in Barcelona for €300,000, is also finding life fine and dandy here in Prague – he’s on around 59,000. — SY

6.08pm: Danniel Can’t call


Danniel Can is cutting a very disgruntled figure at the moment, thanks largely to Team PokerStars Pro Johnny Lodden. Lodden had raised an under-the-gun limp to 1,500 from the small blind and subsequently barrelled 2,700 and 7,075 into the 6J33 board. Can, who had around 15,000 left on the turn, looked fairly pained and decided to pass. Lodden then flashed him his cards (unfortunately out of my line of sight) and Can didn’t seem amused. — RD

6.02pm: The power of positive thinking


We reported earlier how Praz Bansi has fared very badly in EPTs compared to his tournament record elsewhere. For a long time this played on his mind and he even blamed joked I was his bok as I was ever-present throughout his misery.

Bansi is a man reborn thanks to wise words from 30-year pro Ben Roberts. Roberts told Bansi that any negative thoughts will attract negativity which as a poker you can’t afford. Bansi claims to have done so in regards to his supposed EPT curse and is looking to be Mr. Positive. He was down to 14,000 but is on the right track and up to 25,000. — MC

6pm: The Grounded Dutchman


Marcel Luske has departed to join Dario Minieri and Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier on the rail. Actually, he went a few minutes before them.

On a flop of 926 Luske bet 1,100 which Kevin Stani raised to 2,700. Luske called for a 6 turn card and then checked. Stani bet again, 3,700 this time which Luske called for a J river.

This time Luske led the betting, 4,000 to Stani who pushed all-in. Luske called for around 4,000 more, showing J9. But Stani had that beat, showing Q9 to send the Dutchman out. – SB

5.53pm: Still sparring


Team PokerStars Pro Theo Jorgensen has picked himself up off the canvas with the count at nine to keep his hopes of winning this bout alive. He was all-in with AJ versus an opponent holding 66 and the board ran 7Q108A. The Dane found the ace on the river to double-up to 10,000. — MC

5.50pm: Team Pros in trouble


It’s been a tough few minutes for Team PokerStars Pro. Dario Minieri fights on with whatever he can get his hands on, the krav maga form of poker, using everything, including the kitchen sink, against his opponents. While a table away Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier, a space-aged man of sparkle and peroxide, betrays his immortality by chewing on his finger nails.

Minieri meanwhile is nothing but mortal and his failings are part of his appeal. Looking exhausted he moved in with his last 4,000, behind a bet of 900 by Brian Jensen.

“Bust me please,” said Minieri, desperate. “I can’t take any more.”

Whether he believed him or not Jensen duly called, showing JQ to Minieri’s A10. For a second it looked good for the Italian, but the board A510K2 sent him to the rail, disappointed and weary.

A few minutes later ElkY would follow him. After Matteo Taddia opened for 700 in the hijack, Lennart Holz raised to 2,050 before Grospellier moved all-in from the small blind for 4,625. Taddia folded while Holz called, showing K4 to ElkY’s AK.

The board ran A5J44 to send ElkY to the rail, and Holz up to 85,000. — SB

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 200-400, ANTE 50

5.46pm: Jensen


Frederik Jensen has just won a 14,000 pot from Marco Bognannni to jump up to 55,000. Jensen had opened from middle position picking up two callers before Bognannni squeezed to 2,525 from the button. Only Jensen called. The square-jawed Dane check-called 3,525 on the 598 flop before both players checked through to the 2Q river. Bognannni had to show first but could only muster ace-high with A3. Jensen’s pocket sixes were good to take the pot.

Jensen finished sixth in this season’s EPT Vilamoura and runner-up at the Aussie Millions in January. — RD

5.32pm: Word to the wise


Melanie Weisner was one of the many players making waves at EPT Barcelona who happened to not make the money. She’s up to around 58,000 at the moment, a fair chunk above average, and certainly putting herself in a good position for another run at the cash. She just forced a fold from Antonio Battisti with a 4,450 bet on a J49 flop from the button and is unlikely to sit back. — RD

5.30pm: Rivermanl on the river


Laurence ‘rivermanl’ Houghton made a straight on the river against Dmitry Stelmak before picking up another nice pot on the next hand to send him up to 73,000.

The PokerStars player had bet then called a raise from Mikhall Shakhnovich to see a 2[10h]5 flop. Houghton check-called the Russian’s 2,500 bet before both checked the 9 turn. On the 2 river Houghton again checked, then made a great call with 88 when Shakhnovich bet 5,000 with QJ. — SY

5.25pm: Wahlbeck gone


The seat once belonging to Team PokerStars Pro Ville Wahlbeck is now empty. That tells the sorry story of the man from Finland’s demise from EPT Prague. Short-stacked, meanwhile, are Team PokerStars Pros Dario Minieri and ElkY, both on around 4,500. — SY

5.20pm: Comeback kid


I was expecting to rejoin the tournament floor minus one John O’Shea but he was still in his seat. A quick glance at his stack highlighted something was a miss as he had a pile of chips in front of him. How could this be as he had just 500 ten minutes ago?

He now has over 11,000 after winning five hands in a row. He found kings the first hand and won the pot with top set versus a lower set. The next hand he doubled-up with ace-eight versus sixes and the one after with king-nine versus king-queen. Then he won a couple by stealing the blinds and antes.

“I have nearly 40 big blinds now and can actually play through the streets,” joked O’Shea. — MC

5.14pm: Keiner v Jorgensen?


Team PokerStars Pros Theo Jorgensen and Michael Keiner could be stepping into the ring at this rate. Keiner had just picked up the 800 button raise from Oskar Silow by shoving all-in for 9,425 while Jorgensen was talking about boxing.

‘It took me three months just to learn the hitting,’ said Jorgensen slowly demonstrating a solid left jab, shoulder close to chin. Jorgensen was, of course, discussing the training he undertook for the boxing match he had against fellow Dane Gus Hansen back in February 2009.

‘How many brain cells are dying there?’ asked Keiner. It was a comment which could be taken the wrong way so Keiner should be careful, Jorgensen won last year’s bout


convincingly after all. — RD

5.05pm: O’Crippled


John O’Shea just had his aces cracked and is left with one purple chip worth 500. There was an early position limp before the Irishman raised to 1,175 from mid-position and Paul Knebel four-bet to 2,800 from the big blind. The limper folded but O’Shea called to see the J109 flop.

Knebel led for 3,600 only to face a 24,375 all-in shove from O’Shea. Knebel tanked and then made the call all-in with QQ. He was behind to his opponent’s AA but caught up and over took when the turn came 8 to make him a straight at the bottom end. To rub salt into the wound the river K made a straight at the top end too. — MC

4.55pm: The man Minieri


I didn’t start off intending to write “A round with…”, the pioneering what-shall-I-write-about-now? device first employed by Howard Swains during a quiet spell on the PokerStars Blog. I had intended to watch Dario Minieri, the Latin wonder, play only a few hands. He played ten of them. In a row.

It all followed Artur Wasek being crippled by the pocket tens of Peter Roche, a hand that left the big Pole with just 700 chips. Then Minieri got to work.

Minieri’s process is a simple one. He waits in turn to look at his cards, using a unique hand guard, apparently, as one veteran has said, not used in a generation. While his left hand curves up the corner of the cards, his right hand makes a loop over the top, a peep-hole through which he can see the cards, confident no one else can. He follows that with a bet of 725.

Dario Minieri

During all this Friedrich Paul Raz sat opposite him in seat one, a man who would prove something of a nemesis to the young Italian. Twice Minieri’s size, and with at least twice the chips, Raz called from the small blind for a flop of K104. Both checked for a 6 turn card, Minieri taking the pot when he dropped 1,500 into the middle, forcing Raz out.

In the next hand, Minieri folded to a bet from Alessandro Gabriele in the small blind, then raised to 725 pre-flop in the hand after that. Wasek moved all-in and when Erst Mike Erstenyuk called along with Minieri, the two competed for the side pot, until Erstenyuk bet to force out Minieri. Wasek would depart, his Q4 topped by Q7. Minieri on around 10,000.

Hand four, another 725 from Minieri, under-the-gun now. Again Raz called in the cut off and would win the hand, betting on a board of A7437. Then hand five, Minieri limped this time, taking the pot with a bet on the flop of 9710, forcing out Raz and the seat five plater. Minieri back up to 11,500.

Hand six, Minieri takes the pot having completed his small blind and betting on the flop of 105A. Next, Minieri peeks through the loop and re-raises Raz’s bet of 600 to 1,700 for a flop of 98K. Raz bet, Minieri called then both checked the 9 turn and 10 river, Raz taking the pot, Jack-Ten to Jack-Six. Minieri down to 8,500.

Still with me? Hand eight and Minieri keeps plugging away, headphones on, head down, but another pot to Raz, a reminder that sometimes simple good cards will work. Hand nine, Novem, another 725 from Minieri in late position but a pot destined to go to Boris Kotleba when everyone folded to his bet on the turn. Minieri down to 8,000.

Then, on the tenth hand, Minieri rested. He’d finally looked down through that loop of his and found something he didn’t like.

The several thousand lost in that little run may ultimately force the end of Minieri’s EPT Prague. But while some might doubt the need for such performances, urging caution instead of relentless aggression, Minieri remains unrivalled when it comes to these magnificent Quixotic escapades. Forget winning, everyone should try busting out with such style. — SB

4.46pm: And welcome back


After that short intermission, play is under way once more. Blinds are now 150-300 with a 25 ante, and 320 of today’s 372 starters remain.

One of those is Team PokerStars SportStar Fatima Moreira de Melo, whose picture I just happen to have chosen completely at random. She’s on around 40,000, by the way. — SY

PokerStars Blog reporting team (in order of insubordination today): Marc Convey, Rick Dacey, Stephen Bartley and Simon Young

This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.

1.15pm: End of the level


Players are taking the first break of the day.

1.14pm: Sointula and Lykov in action


A flop of 4AK. Jani Sointula flicked back his long blond hair and was ready to play. Opposite him sat Max Lykov, riffling his chips in a regular motion. He was ready too and checked, as did Steven Devlin, also in the hand. When the action reached Sointula he bet 800.

Lykov then raised in the small blind to 2,000, forcing out Devlin and Sointula called for a 3 turn card.

Lykov sat riffling, in a way that the dealer thought meant check. When he turned to Sointula he asked Lykov if he’d checked which the dealer took to mean he’d checked also and was moments away from revealing the river. Luckily he was stopped just in time. I say lucky. Both players checked anyway.

The river came 5. Lykov bet 3,125 this time and it was Sointula’s turn to riffle his chips, hidden somewhere behind his big arms. He called, showing 89 to Lykov’s AK. He’s up to 46,000 now while Lykov slips to 36,000. – SB

1.11pm: Pantaleo piling them up


Giuseppe Pantaleo finished fifth for €170,000 at the recent EPT Barcelona. He built up a big stack and for some time looked like the likely winner. Although events conspired against him the German did show himself to be a fearless player and not afraid to get his chips in the middle. For that reason it comes as little surprise to find that he already has 70,000 in his growing stack.

Our German language PokerStars blogger has informed us that he built up this stack in a series of three hands. He didn’t stack anyone but did bite large chunks out of his tablemates. Here’s how one of them played out.

Following a middle position raise to 300 and call, the button, Andreas Bauer, squeezed to 1,100. Pantaleo, who had found AA in the big blind, four-bet to 2,900. Bauer made the call. Pantaleo flopped the nuts with A104 and duly fired 3,800. Bauer called. Pantaleo checked the Q turn allowing Bauer to thrust 9,500 into the pot. Pantaleo shoved all-in and scooped the 33,500 pot. Must be nice. — RD

1.57pm: Sal Bon


Team PokerStars Pro Salvatore Bonavena won this event two years ago for €774,000 and since then he’s come come close to three significant victories this year alone; 11th at the EPT Grand Final, fourth in a WSOP event and third at PokerStars IPT Nova Gorica.

Sal Bon, as we like to call him, opened the last pot for 400 and found customers in Tobias Pickhard (cut-off) and Mikhail Petrov (big blind) but swiftly left the field of battle when Pickhard bet 800 into the JA9 flop. Petrov called and was the only player to put more chips into the pot with a 1,025 lead on the 3 river. The 8 turn had been checked. As Sal Bon knows, you can’t win them all… — RD

1.52pm: Two streets in Value Town


Another EPT season seven winner has joined table Lodden/Luske and it’s the most recent too. Kent Lundmark took down EPT Barcelona two weeks ago and he’s just taken a pot off Johnny Lodden.

He opened to 450 from the cut-off and Lodden defended to see the J67 flop where he check-called a c-bet. Both Scandies checked the A turn before Lodden check-called a 2,400 bet on the 3 river. Lundmark tabled KJ for the pot as Lodden mucked. — MC

1.48pm: Cleanliness and virtues


An update on the spilled drink situation. The issue was taken care of during a hand between Kevin Stani, Johnny Lodden and the victim of this mess Marcel Luske.

While Stani and Lodden limped, Luske bet 450 pre-flop which the others called for a flop of 69J. The action was checked to Luske who bet another 1,100 as a lady with a big sponge arrived to work on the floor. Stani passed while Lodden called for a 8 on the turn.

Marcel Luske

Both players checked for a 10 river card. The mess now cleared Luske seemed suddenly liberated and when Lodden bet 675 he unleashed a raise to 2,100. Lodden thought and called, mucking when Luske showed AQ. – SB

1.45pm: Artur Wasek and the horse


Wasek, the man mountain from Poland who, quite frankly, terrifies the hell out of us, has an amusing habit of letting out a sort of horse noise when under stress. We first heard it in London, where he final tabled the EPT, and he’s just given me his first horse impression of the day.

On a J5Q board, Wasek bet 1,500 but Friedrich Raz, who had been the aggressor pre-flop, then re-raised to 4,500. Wasek folded AQ face-up, letting out the horse noise as he did so.

Giddy-up! — SY

1.40pm: Showing the bluff


Roger Hairabedian, who final tabled EPT Monte Carlo last season, is sitting on the same table as Team PokerStars Pro Liv Boeree and PokerStars player Laurence Houghton.

This hand was a little odd… The player under the gun limped and five of them called before the small blind woke up and raised to 850. One of the limpers called before Hairabedian fired out 5,100. Everyone got out of the way and the Frenchman turned over Q9 proudly for complete air. — SY

1.37pm: Scarf is on


Salvatore Bonavena now has his bright blue scarf wrapped firmly around his neck. He just needs to put his trilby hat on and Team PokerStars Blog will be happy. — SY

1.35pm: Nacho in the house


Jose ‘Nacho’ Barbero is playing today, and the Team PokerStars Pro from Argentina is already down to 24,000 – not that he’ll let that worry him. On this one the board was Q86Q and his opponent, former EPT winner Christophe Benzimra had bet 2,100 into a pot of nearly 5,000. Barbero, the serial LAPT winner, thought for a good while before letting it go. — SY

1.32pm: A sober thought


Peter Hedlund is one chatty fella. In fact, he seems to spend more time talking than not. And he’s sober… for the moment.

‘It goes better when I have a beer in my hand,’ explained Hedlund. ’I’m giving you an advantage by playing sober. I think it is a mistake.’

Now there’s some justification to get on it early doors. How long will it be until… I’ve just glanced up and seen Peter on his feet with a beer in his hand. Applause. — RD

1.30pm: Who you calling fish?


Pierre Fehner limped from under-the-gun, as did the player next to him. Johnny Lodden was waiting to act and raised to 825 in late position which both limpers called for a 103Q flop.

All three players checked that for a J turn card. Again, the limpers checked to Lodden who bet 1,550. Fehner called while the other limper passed before the J river card. More checking from both players. Lodden turned over 97 but was resigned to losing before Fehner showed his KQ.

“Fish,” yelled someone. It was Bruno Fitoussi. He wasn’t talking to Lodden, he was aiming the (good-natured) remark at Surinder Sunar who was filling out his waiver form. But Lodden looked anyway. – SB

1.22pm: After the crash


The board read AQ1038, Kevin Stani had bet 1,625 and Marcel Luske was next to act. Suddenly there was an enormous crash, the sound of a metal side table scraping across the floor and a coffee cup smashing into several pieces. The coffee that was in it made no noise but flooded the immediate area and the splash-back made its way onto Luske’s sleeve and onto the table.

The culprit, who’d just barrelled his way through this rat run, was long gone before Luske had time to even lob a card protector at him. Luske composed himself, dabbed at his sleeve, and the table, with a tissue to soak up the damage. Good job it was a brown suit. He folded, showing Stani the A. – SB

1.15pm: Whipping up a storm


Dragan Galic was voted European Player of the Year in 2009 and he didn’t get the award by playing small-ball poker. He’s been up to his usual antics again today. He and two players made it to the turn with 3,000 in the middle. The big blind checked as did Galic from under-the-gun before a player in early position bet 2,700. The board read K928 and Galic liked it enough to raise to 20,000 after the BB folded. The players in early position tanked so long Galic called the clock on him which prompted him to fold. “I had a good hand” added Galic. — MC

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 75-150

1.11pm: Roy of the Rovers


Alain Roy is one of those players that were often see in and around the money having cashed in three EPT main events over the last three years. The Frenchman has picked up a couple of small pots already the last of which was from defending his big blind and hitting a KA4 flop. It’s all small pot poker at the moment but slowly on the incline for Roy.

John Eames who is at the same table just a few seats round is on decline, albeit only slightly. The Brit opened for 250 under the gun and was called Hicham Aouraghe on the button and Roy in the small blind. Aouraghe bet the KAK9 turn for 325 and the J river for 1,250. Eames called the turn but looked skywards at the rover bet before passing. It’s all fairly harmless stuff at the moment but the blinds will be going up imminently. — RD

1pm: Aggression pays


Philipp Legath just found out that’s it’s scary to mess with Theo Jorgensen. These two and one other player saw a AA5 flop. Jorgensen was in the big blind and led for 1,500 to face a raise to 4,300 by Legath. The third party folded before Jorgensen re-raised to 12,300. Legath had the look of a school child being lectured and slid his hand into the muck giving up another hand to the Dane.. — MC

12.57pm: Cannot Stani the heat


Kevin Stani is getting the better of Team PokerStars Pro Marcel Luske right now. He raised to 250 from the cut-off and Luske defended from the big blind to see the 88J flop where the action went check-check. The turn came 3 and Luske led for 300. Call. The river fell as Q and once more Luske led for 300 only for Stani to raise to 1,150. Luske quickly open folded KJ.

A few moments later when walking back via the table I noticed Luske leading out on the river only to be raised off another pot by Stani. Stani working well despite his difficult seat. — MC

12.55pm: Standing out in the crowd


Despite a near capacity field there’s not much noise filling the tournament room in this first level. This early stage is more of an orientation exercise; who is sitting where, and any pots that come along tend to be of the mild kind rather than much full on activity. Like paddling along the shoreline getting feet wet before you dive into the surf a little later on.

Those players that stand out do so not for actions but for their clothes. Alfonso Amendola is here once more, bedecked in the outfit of an extra in Bonanza, while Mark Gork, who once played a final table while reading a book of German poetry (not out loud we should point out), wears a baseball cap with the word “Captain” written across it, above three gold stars.

The rest, well they’re a mixture of students in Sunday clothes and middle aged men in Sunday clothes. Casey Kastle, dressed in a loose t-shirt performs calisthenics, to improve his grace of movement, away from his table. Then there’s the beacon of standards Marcel Luske and that beacon of throwing caution to the wind, Peter Hedlund.

It’s a potent mix and one that will be more significant as the day goes on, certainly more significant than the pot Theo Jorgensen just won against Philipp Legath worth 450, after the Team PokerStars Pro made a small bet on the 33Q flop.

All to play for! – SB

12.53pm: Eiler straight into the action


Some players like to sit back in the early levels, others do not. One player that seems to like splashing around from the get-go is EPT Vienna winner Michael Eiler. Button? Tick. Heads-up? Tick. Dry flop and turn? Tick, tick. Four ticks is more than enough for a raise and Eiler takes a small 2,000 pot. Will he add to his €700,000 season seven score? — RD

12.51pm: ElkY here


Team PokerStars Pro ElkY has now sat down at the table of death described below. — SY

12.50pm: Fancy sitting here?


We always find an early table of death to drool over, but this one really does take the biscuit. As I walked up, sitting together were Manuel Bevand, Team PokerStars Pro Max Lykov, Steve ‘allinstevie’ Devlin from the UK, and Jani Sointula. Team PokerStars Pro ElkY is also meant to be at this table, but had yet to take his seat.

Just then, EPT Monte Carlo winner Nicolas Chouity arrived to claim one of the empty stacks. What a table!

In early action, Sointula raised to 275 and got calls from Bevand and Lykov. All three checked the Q55 flop and the 8 turn. But on the K river Sointula bet 500 and got a call from Bevand, who showed KJ for the win. — SY

12.45pm: Sal Bon fashion report


The good news? Italian Team PokerStars Pro Salvatore Bonavena has pitched up with his short-brimmed trilby hat AND his blue scarf. The bad news? He’s not wearing either of them right now; each garment rests on his lap.

Come on, Sal Bon, put them on for the Blog Team! — SY

12.40pm: Early Stani action


EPT Tallinn winner Kevin Stani, sharing a table with fellow Norwegian Johnny Lodden and Marcel Luske, fired out a 250 bet and got a call from the small blind. Both checked the 793 flop, but on the 7 turn the small blind check-called Stani’s 275 bet. Both then checked the 4 river – and Stani’s A8 was behind the small blind’s A[10c]. — SY

12.35pm: Pairs of Pros


EPT Tallinn winner Kevin Stani and Nicolo Calia, who also reached that final table, will be hoping to go deep here as well but they will have to navigate past tough seat draws.

Two seats to Stani’s left is fellow Norwegian Johnny Lodden and one seat further along is another Team PokerStars Pro Marcel Luske. Calia has a similar problem to deal with as three to his left is Michael Keiner and fellow Team Pro Theo Jorgensen is one more seat further along. Good luck, guys. — MC





12.25pm: All aboard!


Former train driver James Akenhead was one of the standout players of 2009 making WSOP and WSOPE final tables bagging almost $2m in the process. Although this year hasn’t been so flush for him in the live arena, just $248,883, he’s always a threat and that’s bad news for Team PokerStars SportStar Fatima Moreira De Melo who is sat directly to his right. — RD

12.15pm: Off we go


Cards are in the air, with the button starting in seat 4. That’s a win for Marc Convey who bags €5 from each of us in the ‘PokerStars Blog Team What Seat Will The Button Start In Sweepstake’. Boy, we know how to have a good time. — SY

12.05pm: Raring to go


When did an EPT ever start on time? Certainly not today. We’re a few minutes late but we look to be only minutes away from the start. Today they’ll be nine one hour levels and a 75 minute break after the sixth. — SB

11.55am: Bigger


Judging by the number of tables that have a dealer patiently waiting at them, the field today should be around 120 players bigger than yesterday, around 310. That will give us a total field of around 500. Not bad at all, although that does rely on the altogether unlikely scenario that my math is correct.

Players are beginning to take their seats. Expect to be under way in around 15 minutes. — SY

11.15pm: Rinse and repeat


Yesterday 191 players paid up, sat down and played nine levels of poker. Well, at least 85 did, the other 106 were eliminated along the way after what was an uneventful but workmanlike day at the tables at the Prague Hilton.

Today, a new field will attempt the same, buoyed by the warmth inside as opposed to the new snow outside, and the prospect of what will today be a much bigger field.

It all takes place in front of us, or, if you can’t be here, in the pages you’re now reading. We’ll have all the action, presented in the best possible way and you’ll only have to excuse the odd bolding/italics/centring issue. But let he who is free from guilt cast the first message in the comments box below.

Play starts at 12 noon. — SB

The Prague Hilton

PokerStars Blog reporting team (in order of number of grey squirrels killed): Rick Dacey (two, they were eating wires in his roof), Simon Young (none, but his dog chases them), Stephen Bartley and Marc Convey (none, why would you kill a squirrel?)

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