2007 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE)

Day 1 completed

Posted 09-07-2007 01:23 GMT

Play Concludes for the Day

Play has concluded for the day, with 51 of the 105 original players still remaining.

Join us from 2 pm local time as we continue our coverage of the inaugural World Series of Poker Europe, when 51 will become eight. As always, we will keep you updated with up-to-date chip counts, our Live Reporting blog, and photos and videos from the floor of the Empire Casino here in Leicester Square in central London.

A Scandie Three-Quartering

They may not be well known Stateside, but Torstein Iversen and Andreas Hoivold are familiar names over here in Europe, the latter of whom recently won 300K plus in the Dortmund EPT.

Anyhow, these two Scandinavian pros crossed swords in Stud Eight or Better, but it was Hoivold who came up trumps, check-calling two 1.2K bets on the flop and turn of a board before checking down the river.

Possibly fearing he was in trouble, Iversen meekly revealed his only for Hoivold to deal out a good old fashioned three-quartering with .

Tags: Andreas Hoivold, Torstein Iversen.

Marc Goodwin Ends the Day Above Average

Prior to the exciting elimination of Michael Keiner, and right before the herding of the spectators toward the bar signalled the end of play for tonight, Marc Goodwin had been having a mediocre day all round. The last time I spoke to him he said, "The average stack is 16,700. I have 16,700. If you're writing about me and just put '.' it's more exciting than anything that's happened to me all day." He's much happier to be ending the day around 32K, with almost exactly half the field having hit the felt, bar, and town/hotel in that order.

Orient Express Derailed

Legendary poker player and part-time actor (well, "Rounders"), Johnny Chan, is officially out of the HORSE event and forced to saddle up and yee-haw his way out of here.

Great Dane Gus Hansen was the assassin, the shaven-headed Aussie Millions Champ derailing the Orient Express with a wheel in Stud Eight or Better.

Tags: Gus Hansen, Johnny Chan.

"Let's Spice it up a Bit"

Mark Vos and Gus Hansen are discussing the lack of action at their table and Mark has just laid the challenge to "Make it three bets dark if I raise it first."

Also seated at the table are Johnny Chan, Allen Cunningham, Joe Beevers and Donnacha O'Dea. Chips are not easily released.

Monopoly Anyone?

There is an interesting discussion developing between Chris Ferguson and David Williams. Apparently, there is a Monopoly tournament running somewhere, and with play only 10 minutes away from concluding for the day, talk has turned to what to do when the day ends.

The Shorties Take A Hit!

They're like buses these guys, you wait for ages for an exit, then two turn up at once.

Unfortunately, and I feel partly responsible for jinxing him in my previous post, the most recent departure is Robert Williamson III, who, although exiting stage left, still wears that grin across his chops that has made him so popular with poker fans.

Just prior, WSOP 2007 bracelet winner and German poker veteran Michael Keiner bit the dust, the German's fate being sealed in Stud Eight or Better with Marc 'MrCool' Goodwin placing the finishing touches.

All-in with versus the Brummie's , the wheel was too much for Keiner to handle.

Tags: Marc Goodwin, Michael Keiner, Robert Williamson III.

The Quiet Acheiver...

Russian player Alex Kravchenko has managed to sneak under the radar today and currently has just over 30,000 in chips. He is having a hell of a year so far, cashing no less than six times at this year's WSOP, including a bracelet in S.H.O.E. and a fourth-place finish in the Main Event. A naturally quiet guy, he is a fierce competitor at the table.

Tags: Alex Kravchenko.

Elezra Takes on Iversen

With a stack best described as low, verging on desperate, Eli Elezra got involved in a Stud hand with Scandinavian tournament specialist Torstein Iversen, erstwhile member of the Team Norsemen, Scandinavian scourge of the EPT etc. etc. (That makes him sound a bit like a pirate, but he's actually very quiet at the table, applying that calm aggression so typical of the Norwegians.)

Torstein was betting on fifth street like so:

Iversen: (X-X)
Elezra: (X-X)

Elezra called, and received an while Iversen got the . Another bet from Iversen (the big bet now 1,200) after the final down card was dealt, and Elezra, though down to just 3,400, made the call. He revealed his hole cards to be for aces up, which beat Torstein Iversen's (kings up) to give him a much-needed chip boost.

Tags: Eli Elezra, Torstein Iversen.