2008 PokerStars.com EPT Grand Final - Monte Carlo

Day 1b completed

Posted 04-14-2008 12:02 GMT+2

Day 1b is a Wrap

The second and final day 1 flight is officially in the books. A total of 450 players took to the felt this afternoon, and twelve hours later we're left with approximately 225; we'll have the official number for you tomorrow morning.

Among those moving on are Team PokerStars pros Daniel Negreanu, Joe Hachem, Vanessa Rousso and Chad Brown, along with fellow pros Antonio Esfandiari and Gus Hansen. The unofficial Day 1b chip leader is Frenchman Cyril Bensoussan, who we estimate closed the day with right around 125,000 in chips.

We'll be back tomorrow afternoon - same bat time, same bat channel - with Day 2 coverage of the PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Grand Final. Play will recommence at 1:00 p.m. local time (GMT+1) and thus, so will we.

Until then, from Monte Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort in Monte Carlo, Monaco, good night and good luck!

Tags: Cyril Bensoussan.

Prizepool Information Delayed

We just got the official word from PokerStars that the prizepool and payout information will not be released until tomorrow. Though, with 842 players, some arithmetic tells us that the total prizepool is well over $13.3 million USD.

Five Hand Warning

The press and fans have now been asked to vacate the tournament area as we are officially into the last five hands of the day's play.

Frenchman Fronts Field

As we enter the final minutes of the day, local French player Cyril Bensoussan has emerged as the clear chip leader with in excess of 130,000 in chips. At this late stage, it looks likely that he'll be our tournament chip leader entering into Day 2.

Tags: Cyril Bensoussan.

The Fashion Report: Day 1b

Thank you Joe Hachem. Thank you for dressing like a gentleman playing a high-stakes poker tournament in Monte Carlo. You, sir win my best-dressed award today for donning that black ribbed sweater with the collar of a perfectly starched shirt peeking our from underneath. The dark-wash jeans were spot-on as well. Bravo.

I can't say as much for Jeff "ActionJeff" Garza. His loud silk striped shirt was positively vertigo-inducing. I don't think I've ever seen him in anything other than something loud, patterned, and silk come to think of it.

And then there's the young man whose name I'll withhold. I really hope he has a good excuse, like losing his luggage, because he showed up to play in workout pants and a pair of those white, semi-disposable hotel slippers. Either he's completely without other clothes or the laziest human being on the planet.

Tags: Jeff Garza, Joe Hachem.

Raul Paez Amongst Leaders

Raul Paez has surged up the leaderboard to become one of the chip leaders late in the evening, as he now looks over a chip stack of around 82,000 in chips.

Tags: Raul Paez.

Players Return From Break

Level 7 started

Posted 04-14-2008 00:41 GMT+2

10-Minute Break

The tournament clock has been paused while the players go on their last break of the day. When they return, the remaining 243 day 1b entrants will play half of Round 7 (45 minutes) and then call it a day.