£5,200 EPT London Main Event Day 1b | 2008 PokerStars.com EPT London

10-02-2008 15:47 UTC+2

"It's Been Like That All Year"

[user4144]

I joined the action with the board reading {J-Spades}

and Greg Raymer leading into a multi-way pot with a bet of 500. Everyone folded, except one stubborn player in late position who made it 1,500 to play.

After a brief pause, Greg Raymer fondled his chips before sliding his remaining 5,400 across the line. Clearly wary, his opponent made a somewhat hesitant call with {J-Hearts}

, only for the 2004 World Champion to table {Q-Spades}

for the flopped straight.

Although comfortably ahead, the Poker Gods had their wicked way with Raymer, the harmless {3-Diamonds}

being swiftly followed by a harmful {J-Diamonds}

. In all my time of reporting on Raymer, I've never seen him look so dejected as he rose from the table, glanced over at myself and another blogger and meekly said, "It's been like that all year."

Tags: Greg Raymer

Level: 2

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

10-02-2008 15:27 UTC+2

Good Start for 'The Worm'

[user4144]

Mickey 'The Worm' Wernick is up to 14,000 early doors after finding aces versus A-Q on a queen-high flop. He bet the turn, but check-called on the end when the river paired the board.

10-02-2008 15:25 UTC+2

The Shark Tank

[user24788]

Three American pros are seated at the same table... David Williams, Erik Seidel, and Antonio Esfandiari. I'd really hate to be one of the many online satellite winners seated at their table.

Tags: Erik Seidel

10-02-2008 15:22 UTC+2

Scotty Baby Waiting at the Bar

[user24788]

Scotty Nguyen was spotted standing at the bar sipping... a cup of coffee. The 2008 WSOP $50,000 HORSE World Champion caused quite a stir en route to his victory earlier this summer in Las Vegas. Despite his consistent denial about his state of inebriation, his actions were certainly less than gentlemanly. A more subdued Nguyen is here and quietly waiting for his table. He is among the many alternates for Day 1B.

Tags: Scotty Nguyen

10-02-2008 15:16 UTC+2

In the Kitchen with Katja

[user24788]

The Vic added four tables to accommodate the spillover during the opening flights. Those tables are tucked away in the corner of the dinning area. Katja Thater is one of the players in that area. Thater is a horse breeder in Germany and mentioned that several of her horses are ill. "I need to make some money to help pay for the medical bills," she said. "If people raise me too much I will tell them that they will be affecting my ability to help my horses."

Tags: Katja Thater

10-02-2008 15:13 UTC+2

A Matter of Taste

[user4144]

If there's one aspect of the EPT that continually delivers, it has to be the bizarre fashions showcased at each event. Thankfully, this year's London event is no different. As Mike McDonald sits resplendent in his bumble bee top, Noah Boeken is boasting yet another fabulous hoody, psychedelic, golden, and as glittery as ever. Meanwhile, monsieurs Devilfish and Andy Black haven't let the team down, the latter sporting a funky purple woolly hat with bright pink spots.

If there's one person that was born dapper, however, it's Boris Becker. Delighting the ladies with his slick hairdo and designer stubble, Becker is suited and booted and ready for action. In fact, he's already taken down his first pot, the small blind limping for 50 only for Becker to snap it up with a bet of 500 from the big blind.

Tags: Andy Black

10-02-2008 15:11 UTC+2

Is Bill Ivey Here?

[user24788]

It's a running joke among poker media that there will be one moment during any random poker tournament where a spectator walks over and poses the question, "Is Bill Ivey here?"

They are actually looking for the legendary Phil Ivey. And yes, in case you are wondering, Phil Ivey is in the house. He's seated right next to Noah Boeken.

Tags: Noah Boeken Phil Ivey

10-02-2008 15:08 UTC+2

Early Action

[user4144]

As always, I scoured the battlefield with my eyes peeled to the felt in search of any early action (or, more accurately, big chips in the middle). Sadly, I didn't spot any early casualties, but I did see Huseyin Yilmaz win a nice pot with {J-Spades}

, his 3,000 bet being called on the river of a {A-Hearts}

board. Funnily enough, his opponent couldn't better a straight and duly mucked.

10-02-2008 14:57 UTC+2

Star-Spotting

[user4144]

Like an endless Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Vic is scattered with an array of famous names from the poker scene, many of whom have come straight from the WSOPE at the Empire Casino. Of those making the inevitable transition are John Tabatabai, David Rheem, Antonio Esfandiari, Surinder Sunar and Dario Alioto, to name but a few.

We're also graced with the presence of many EPT champions of years (or, in some cases, weeks) in the form of Andreas Hoivold, Mads Andersen, Julian Thew, John Shipley, Jan Boubli and the most recent victor of them all, Sebastian Ruthenberg.