Main Event Day 2 | 2010 EPT Deauville

Main Event

Day 2 Completed

01-23-2010 00:05 UTC+2

Day 2 Concluded Some Time Ago; Levi in the Lead

[user46392]

Well, despite our recent connectivity problems, it's been a super-fast day here in Deauville. In just six levels our 395-strong Day 2 starting field has shrunk to 133. This, of course, means that when we come back tomorrow we will be just a few places away from the money.

Yes indeed, only 104 places pay out in this mega-tournament, and among those who will definitely not be placing are a number of big names. Arnaud Mattern, Alex Kravchenko, Katja Thater, Jean-Robert Bellande, Jon Aguiar and Antoine Saout were all among the hordes of the busted today, and go home empty-handed.

Still very much in the running, on the other hand, is a sizable clutch of household names. ElkY, Peter Eastgate, Juha Helppi, Dario Minieri and Freddy Deeb all made it through to Day 3, and all will be hoping to accumulate and dominate come tomorrow. France's own Ludovic Lacay, winner of this year's French Poker Award in the Best-Player-Under-26 category won a monster pot late in the day to catapult him into the lead and managed to stay there until he was pipped at the last minute by fellow Frenchie Nicolas Levi. A last-minute surge saw Levi sail away with the chip lead - he goes into Day 3 on 648,000.

We'll be back at noon GMT+1, so join us then to see who ends up on top, and who goes home with nothing.

01-23-2010 00:05 UTC+2

It Ainsworth a Thing if it Ain't Got That (Downward) Swing

[user46392]

A last-minute disaster for Jude Ainsworth as he doubled up Huo Jinfeng.

We're not sure when the chips went in, but the cards looked like so when we reached the table:

Ainsworth: pocket sixes
Jinfeng: pocket kings

Board: {7-?}

"Nice hand," said Ainsworth, a trifle unnecessarily.

Jinfeng moves on up to 350,000; Ainsworth meanwhile is left with 130,000.

Tags: Jude Ainsworth

01-23-2010 00:04 UTC+2

Levi on a Comeback

[user46392]

Nicolas Levi has flipped his way to victory and is now on a twice-average 350,000.

Mr. Levi raised from the cutoff and Michael Benhammouda re-popped from the big blind for 36,000. Levi shipped for 155,000 more, Benhammouda called, and the cards were turned over.

Benhammouda: {A-Clubs}

Levi:

Board:

Levi looked like he was trying to keep a straight face as the pot headed his way, while Behammouda was having altogether less trouble forming a scowl.

Tags: Nicolas Levi

01-23-2010 00:00 UTC+2

ElkY Shows Respect

[user140525]

ElkY raised under the gun, and from middle position, Freddy Deeb moved all in for about 20,000 more, less than three times ElkY’s raise. But when action folded back to him, Grospellier just couldn’t make the call. He mucked {Q-Diamonds}

face up. “If you catch three jacks you could win,” said Deeb, showing his pocket queens. Even with that pot, Deeb is still very short.

01-22-2010 21:19 UTC+2

The Timex Has Come

[user46392]

Mr. Ludovic "Chip Leader" Lacay can afford to lose the odd pot now, and that's exactly what he did when he got involved with Mike "Timex" McDonald.

By the time we caught up with them there was 75,000 or so in the pot and the board read {5-Clubs}

. Timex had a bet of 40,000 in front of him and Lacay was staring him down. Eventually, though, Lacay decided he liked being chip leader enough not to risk it, and passed.

Timex moves on up to 280,000.

Tags: Ludovic Lacay Mike McDonald

01-22-2010 21:16 UTC+2

Lacay Taking Over

[user140525]

Ludovic Lacay and chips, lots and lots of chips

Ludovic Lacay had a pretty large stack a few minutes ago, but now he's sitting behind a veritable mountain of chips - more than 600,000. His new wealth (and the chip lead) was gifted to him by one Mr. Riccardo Mazzitelli.

There was some seriously nuts preflop action for live poker, especially as the rest of the room has gotten much tighter in sight of the money. Mazzitelli raised to 12,500, Lacay raised to 30k, then Mazzitelli came over the top for around 70,000. Undaunted, Ludovic pulled out the old five-bet shove, a move saved for very special occasions. And Mazzitelli called all in for another 140,000!

Showdown
Mazzitelli: {A-Spades}

Lacay:

The board ran out {A-Clubs}

, meaning Lacay's big slick
held up. It's very likely that with less than hour left to play today, Lacay's current spot as Day 2 chip leader will hold as well.

01-22-2010 21:15 UTC+2

Trouble Brueling

[user46392]

A raising war between Patrick Bruel (mid position) and Richard Leblanc (button) culminated with Bruel moving all in.

A wall of various cameras and media personnel swarmed around the table while Leblanc considered his options (Mr. Bruel is very famous indeed in France - "He is like George Clooney here," whispered a French blogger to us). Bruel winked at his opponent. Perhaps because of this, or perhaps in spite of it, Leblanc passed.

Tags: Patrick Bruel