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

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 15:22 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 15:25 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 15:27 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.

Level: 2

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

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: 3

Blinds: 75/150

Ante: 0

10-02-2008 16:01 UTC+2

"What Does Seidel Think?"

[user24788]

During the WSOPE last week, Antonio Esfandiari and his buddy Phil Laak were playing a prop betting game called "What Does Johnny Lodden Think?" They would try to predict the answers to specific questions and the one who was closer to Lodden's answer would win £100. Today, the game has evolved. The participants are Esfandiari and David Williams. And instead of Johnny Lodden, they are using Erik Seidel in a new version called "What Does Seidel Think?"

Yes, poker tournaments can be utterly boring affairs and those guys are trying to have a little fun while passing the time in between folding hands.

Tags: David Williams Erik Seidel

10-02-2008 16:12 UTC+2

Fast Out of the Blocks

[user4144]

One player who has come hurtling out of the blocks at breakneck speed is last year's WSOPE runner up John Tabatabai who currently has just under 30,000.

He was already flourishing at the time, but one hand I witnessed saw Tabatabai leading out for 3,050 on a {5-Spades}

board. To his delight, neighbour George Lind pushed all in, and quicker than a hiccup, Tabatabai made the call with {A-Clubs}

. Lind showed {5-Clubs}

.

A

river was of no use to Lind, allowing Tabatabai to take the pot. "See you at the final," predicted the dealer, which possibly wasn't the wise choice of words given she'd just dealt him trip aces.

Tags: John Tabatabai

10-02-2008 16:13 UTC+2

Pass the Sugar and Crack Aces

[user24788]

Joe Hachem is sitting on a nice stack after he doubled up earlier. The former WSOP world champion snapped off aces with pocket tens. Hachem rivered a ten. Live poker is soooo rigged.

Tags: Joe Hachem