2008 PokerStars.com EPT Barcelona Open

EPT Barcelona Open Main Event
Day: 1b
1a1b234
Event Info

2008 PokerStars.com EPT Barcelona Open

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
k♣9♣
Prize
€1,361,000
Event Info
Buy-in
€8,000
Prize Pool
€4,952,000
Entries
619
Level Info
Level
29
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
10,000
Sort

"Baaaaaaaarcelona!"

[user4144]
[user4144]
In 1988, Freddie Mercury sang about Barcelona and how "it was the first time that we met", but if he'd been around today he may have added "but you didn't have any flippin' WiFi!" Sadly, the luxuries of yesterday are now no more than a distant memory as the wireless Internet here in the press room is well and truly kaput. We do have a number of Ethernet cables at hand, although not enough to cater for the entire PokerNews team, so the show must, and will, go on.

In the meantime, the second batch of day one players are slowly trickling their way into the card room, the likes of Trond Eidsvig, Julian Thew, Katja Thater, William Thorson, and former Tennis star Sergio Bruguera just a handful of the names penciled in for today.

Level: 1

Blinds: 25/50

Ante: 0

Who's Here?

[user25067]
[user25067]
On our first pass around the tournament area we spotted Freddy Deeb, Jean-Robert Bellande, Scotty Nguyen, Per Ummer, Voitto Rintala, Daniel Negreanu, EPT Warsaw Champion Peter Jepsen, William Thorson, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, Fabrice Soulier, Jan Sjavik, Raymond Rahme, Gino Alacqua, EPT Copenhagen Champion Tim Vance, Adam Junglen, Katja Thater, Thierry van den Berg and Gavin Griffin.

A Chop Is a Win

[user40108]
[user40108]
Action folded around to a middle position player who made it 150 to play. Joe Pelton, next to act, called the raise and the two were heads up.

The flop came {Q-Clubs} {J-Clubs} {8-Diamonds}. It was checked to Pelton and he bet 250. His opponent called and the {3-Spades} hit the turn. It was checked to Pelton again and he fired a bet of 425. He got a relatively quick call and the {7-Clubs} hit the river.

Pelton's opponent led out for 500 and Joe made a quick call, the players showed:

Pelton: {A-Diamonds} {Q-Diamonds}
Opponent: {A-Spades} {Q-Spades}

Both players looked somewhat relieved as they split the pot.

Not a Bad Start

[user40108]
[user40108]
We caught up to this hand on the river, just in time to see an unknown player wager his entire stack on an {A-Clubs} {J-Clubs} {5-Spades} {J-Diamonds} {9-Clubs} board. His lone opponent, who had a good portion of his chips already in the pot, took his time before finally calling.

The all-in player casually tabled {J-Spades} {J-Hearts} while the other flashed {5-Diamonds} {5-Hearts} as he mucked.

ElkY Chips Up Early

[user25067]
[user25067]
Elky-- no "Joker" makeup but still bleached-blonde
Elky-- no "Joker" makeup but still bleached-blonde
Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier is off to a running start today and dressed quite normally (you might recall the "Joker" costume and makeup he was so fond of at APPT Macau).

On a flop of {7-Diamonds} {6-Spades} {5-Spades}, the small blind checked to ElkY in the big blind, and he led out for 425. The button raised to 1,500, the small blind gave it up, and ElkY called. The turn came the {4-Hearts}, prompting a 2,150 bet from ElkY. The button called. The river was the {9-Clubs} and ElkY wasted no time moving all in for his remaining 7,700 or so. The button gave it up and ElkY dragged the substantial pot, sending his chip stack past the 15,000 mark midway through the first level.

Tags: Bertrand GrospellierElkY

Packed to the Rafters

[user4144]
[user4144]
As expected, the card room is packed to the rafters like cans of sardines in an elevator with pros and amateurs alike locking horns across the felt. Of the "Oh, I know him" ilk, the likes of Bruno Fitoussi, Henrik Gwinner, Arnaud Mattern, William Thorson and Jan Sjavik instantly stood out, as did Italian Stallion Luca Pagano, resplendent as ever in his pale pink shirt.

As with yesterday, a number of famous faces have crossed seas to join us here in Barcelona, Freddy Deeb and Scotty Nguyen unfortunate enough to be sharing table space, whilst former International footballer Tony Cascarino has overcome a rather smaller sea to vie for his second title in as many weeks. Meanwhile, the usually charismatic Daniel Negreanu appears somewhat subdued today, his headphones immediately locked in as he remains intently focused on the task in hand.

Finally, a quick mention must go out to Steve Frezer and Charlie Ciresi, the two EPT Trojans barely recognizable sans suit, but happy to be swapping the pressures of tournament directing for a rare outing at the felt.

A Stacked Table

[user40108]
[user40108]
A quick glance at the outer tables shows the last two WSOP $50K H.O.R.S.E. champions Freddy Deeb and Scotty Nguyen at the same table, a closer look reveals that Casey Kastle and Surinder Sunar are also working the same felt.
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