2016 Cash Game Festival Bulgaria
Day 1 Completed
2016 Cash Game Festival Bulgaria
2016 Cash Game Festival Bulgaria
Day: 1
Great Start to the Cash Game Festival
Day 1 of the 2016 Cash Game Festival Bulgaria has been a huge success with lots of action and fun emanating throughout the poker room at Platinum Casino located off the boardwalk in Sunny Beach.
The day began with players heading their way off the volleyball courts, sand, and bars to head to the casino for welcome drinks at 5:00 p.m. Some players were already in action to battle it out on the felts early with a couple of tables full of players that came out special for the festival and did not want to wait for it to start playing.
About an hour later, the first televised feature table kicked off at €1/€2 no-limit hold'em, which included both Guts.com sponsored player Kalle Fagerstrom (pictured) from Sweden losing €700 and SlotsMillions.com player Maret Komarova winning about €70. Both players described the early action as tight.
Initially it was Brendon Allen and Brendon Krabill commentating on the live stream of the feature table. Before hitting the commentary booth, Krabill ran hot on the roulette wheel to win €1,500.
Shortly afterwards, it was Krabill's turn to shine on the feature table when the stakes went up to €2/€5. He won one of the biggest pots of the day on the feature table that wasn't chopped when his pocket-aces were up against his opponent's 
on a 
flop. His hand was able to dodge a few outs to ship him a huge pot of €1,400.
A few hands later, Poland's Artur Grzegovzewski trumped this hand when he made a big hero call holding 
on a 
board against Platinum Casino regular Fahredin Mustafov, also known as "Feri" who shoved €400 into a €800 board. Grzegovzewski didn't wait much to call shipping him a giant 300+ big blind pot of €1,600.
Off the poker felts, there have been dozens of players enjoying drinks and conversation with promises to join in on the hot poker action as the festival moves ahead.
The action is still going strong with eight tables in play and some players have shared they plan to play through the night.
Players with the hospitality package are scheduled to head back to the casino tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. before heading off to play in a mini-golf competition at 4:00 p.m. Also, straight after the competition at 6:00 p.m., VIPs are scheduled to enjoy a special dinner.
Many other players will likely be sticking to the beach, bars, and of course the casino for some ring game action. Live streaming is scheduled at lower stakes at 5:30 p.m. and higher stakes at 8:30 p.m. on a 20 minute delay.
Stay tuned at PokerNews for the next four days as we report some of the hottest action at the Cash Game Festival.
Photos From Day 1
More photos from Day 1 compliments of Natalie Pastakeda / Vita Pictura Productions.
Another Huge Pot
Finally a big hand on the feature table that didn't involve pocket rockets, and finally a hand that didn't involve Jasen Dichov.
Platinum Casino regular Fahredin Mustafov, also known as "Feri" put Poland's Artur Grzegovzewski to the test by going all in after missing his flush draw for about €400 into an €800 pot on a board.
Grzegovewski didn't think for very long with Feri betting wide throughout the feature table before snap-calling with and winning a huge €1,600 pot for top-pair.
Shortly after there was an even bigger hand for €1,700 which was the biggest of the night, however, it was chopped between two players, so currently Grazegovewski holds the record for the biggest Cash Game Festival feature table pot at Platinum Casino.
This record is likely to be broken, as these pots are just at €2/€5 and many players have expressed interest in playing €5/€10 and even €25/€50 later in the festival.
Branden Krabill Continues His Run With Pocket Rockets
Just a few minutes ago, viewers of the live stream witnessed what is now the biggest hand on the feature table of the day. Similar to the previous biggest hand, Jasen Dichev was involved and the winning player was once again holding pocket rockets in the hole. However, instead of winning the hand, he was on the losing end doubling up Branden Krabill.
The duo were going at it and both players were all-in on a 
flop, creating a humongous €1,400 pot. Krabill this time was the one with holding a pair of aces and was able to hold against Dichev's 
after the board completed with 
on the turn and 
on the river.
Krabill, who is arguably the sharpest dressed player today, is visibly enjoying his streak as are his old and new friends watching the action.
Jasen Dichev Wins the Biggest Pot of the Day
We just caught the tail end of a hand on the feature table when 28-year old local Bulgarian Jasen Dichev who held [ahak], bet for almost €400 on a 
into a pot of around €900. Fellow countrymate Jordan Arnaudov tanked for a few minutes while putting some thought to whether his 
could possibly be good on this board.
With about €250 behind, he made the call to send a pot of almost €1,100 to Duhel which is the biggest on the feature table so far during the festival.
Big Festival Expected
We learned from tournament organizers that 120 players preregistered to attend the Cash Game Festival. We have bumped into many more just today that are playing that didn't preregister.
As the week becomes the weekend, there is not expected to be an empty seat in the poker room. Currently the poker room is buzzing with excitement with eight tables of players playing with another two dozen players joking around and having drinks away from the felts.
Flip & Roulette Master Brenden Krabill
Branden Krabill, originally from Texas and now living in London, has had an interested day at Platinum Casino in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria.
To start things off, he felt on some tilt and put €500 on red on the roulette wheel before welcome drinks and won. He then had some welcome drinks before heading back to the roulette wheel, this time betting much small putting a few bucks on a few numbers he felt were lucky.
Lady luck was on his side, and he nailed his number five times in a row to win another €1,000. He then joined Brandon Allen in the commentary booth to cover the live streaming of the first feature table. He took a small break when this was over, and was ready for action in the second feature table at €2/€5 no-limit hold'em.
He agreed with four other players before the action kicked in that they would all put €100 into the pot for a pure flip. When it rains it pours, and Krabill struck lightning again by winning the flip for a random €500 pot.
Finnish Players Here to Drink, Play Cards, and Hit the Beach!
A few Finnish players made the journey for the Cash Game Festival in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria. Take a quick break was "Koso" who shared his group came in last night and since they arrived its been all about "drinking and having a good time, while playing cards." He did admit he had a good time while hitting the beach as well.
He is up a small amount today at a €2/€5 no-limit hold'em table, and just asked what pot-limit Omaha action was taking place. He was thinking of making a move after learning there was a game at the same stakes he is playing hold'em in.
We will continue to catch up with "Koso" and others from Finland throughout the festival.
If You Are Happy, "Franke" Is Happy
Cash Game Festival co-founder Martin "Franke" von Zweigbergk is having a good time and is doing his best to hope his opponents are doing the same on the €1/€3 table he is seated at.
We witnessed on more than one occasion "Franke" have a conversation with the player to his right who is only speaking Russian, The only problem is that "Franke" doesn't understand more than a few words or Russian outside of Nyet and Da.
In a recent hand, the duo faced off. We caught up to the action with a ton of chips in the pot on a 
board. "Franke" was facing a bet of €60 and shared that he knew he was beat. He decided to call later and was not surprised at all when his opponent showed the 
.
However, before giving up on the hand, he asked his opponent to show his other card, which turned out to be the 
. "Franke" with a big smile was "speaking" with his opponent. Then he shared with the rest of the table (in English) before folding, "I don't want to muck, he seems so happy."
Franke then went on to speak some Russian and mucking his hand before sharing he had 
for a lower set than his opponent. Despite "Franke" winning some hands earlier on, with another huge smile he shared to everyone within earshot that, "I'm the worst." While many might not agree with this about his poker skills, it would be hard to argue with "Franke" that this is the case with his Russian language skills.