PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Grand Final Day 1a | 2008 PokerStars.com EPT Grand Final - Monte Carlo

04-12-2008 21:06 UTC+2

Johnny Lodden = Chip Leader

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Johnny Loddon has had a very strong day and is currently our tournament chip leader. After being close to 70,000 in chips at one stage, our last reports have Lodden around the 50,000-chip mark to put him at the top of the leaderboard!

Tags: Johnny Lodden

Level: 5

Blinds: 150/300

Ante: 0

04-12-2008 20:58 UTC+2

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?

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Maria Maceiras, Niki Jedlicka, and Sorel Mizzi all saw a flop of {J-Clubs}

. Maceiras checked, Jedlicka bet 950, Mizzi raised to 3,000 and Maceiras immediately three-bet to 7,500. Jedlicka folded and Mizzi went into the tank, thinking the hand over as the other players at the table left for their break. Mizzi ultimately mucked, saving his remaining 10,800 in chips.

After the hand, Maceiras was up to 16,500 in chips. And if her last name seems familiar to you, she's the sister of EPT Barcelona final tabler Juan Maceiras, as well as the daughter of "Vietcong01," one of the most successful players on PokerStars.

Tags: Maria Maceiras

04-12-2008 20:56 UTC+2

Dag Martin Mikkelsen New Career Move?

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After being eliminated earlier in today's event, Dag Martin Mikkelsen may be considering a switch over to the other side of the camera. He was recently spotted on the tournament floor taking some happy snaps of his fellow players. Whether a new career move or a one-time only appearance -- Dags appeared to be enjoying himself!

Tags: Dag Martin Mikkelsen

04-12-2008 20:43 UTC+2

Humberto Still the King!

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Humberto Brenes has been playing very patiently today and avoiding any big confrontations. However, holding pocket kings he probably wasn't thrilled to see five opponents call a pre-flop raise and take a flop of 10-10-2. The action checked around to allow a free jack to fall on the turn. The action checked around again to a late-position player who fired 1,500 into the middle. Brenes was the lone caller as he treaded carefully out of position with his kings. The river brought an eight and Brenes once again check-called his opponent's 3,000 bet. His opponent flipped Q-J for top pair, but Brenes gleefully accepted the pot, flashing his kings to the table in typical Brenes fashion!

Brenes now has around 22,000 in chips underneath his two shark card protectors!

Tags: Humberto Brenes

04-12-2008 20:28 UTC+2

PokerNews Exclusive Video: Patrik Antonius and Baby Mila

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Our own Amanda Leatherman caught up with Patrik Antonius and his daughter Mila during a recent break in play to discuss Patrik's current tournament progress and the big game at Bellagio, but it was Mila who ultimately stole the show.

Click here to watch this video and others direct from the tournament floor here at the Monte Carlo Bay and Resort in beautiful Monte Carlo, Monaco.

04-12-2008 20:26 UTC+2

The Fashion Report: Day 1a

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We here at PokerNews would like to welcome George Danzer's scarf back to the tournament circuit. I was worried when I saw him doing commentating duties sans neckwear at the EPT's Copenhagen stop a few months back, but he assured me that the scarf would be making a return.

"The scarf is only for tournaments," he explained.

Another signature piece I noticed missing was Nicolas Levi's cream-colored fedora. The Frenchman instead chose a gray number with white stripes for the EPT Grand Final. Let's hope this one is as lucky for Levi as the other has been.

In a sea of patterned hoodies (everything from camouflage to L.A. Dodgers' logos) two impeccably-dressed gentlemen immediately stand out -- EPT Prague runner-up Gino Alacqua, and Marcel Luske, both donning sharp black suits. This is Monte Carlo, after all.

And in my... let's call it "special" category today, we have two gentlemen whose identies I'll kindly conceal. One is a boisterous, talktative Brit in a silk jacquard shirt that is an absolutely eye-scorching purple. The other is a pink-haired chap rumored to be a Polish rock star. He's certainly dressing the part in a silver lamé motorcycle jacket with grommet details, white polyester wind pants decorated with dozens of zippers and fierce-looking black boots dotted with silver spikes.

Tags: George Danzer Gino Alacqua Marcel Luske Nicolas Levi

04-12-2008 20:17 UTC+2

Julian Powell Progressing Well

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T6 Poker professional Julian Powell is starting to get busy, playing a lot of small ball poker and collecting plenty of dead money. Powell has now accumulated over 30,000 in chips without too many showdowns.

Tags: Julian Powell

04-12-2008 20:10 UTC+2

305 Players Remaining

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With a little over a half-hour remaining in Round 4, there are 305 players left in the tournament and the average chip stack is 19,278.

04-12-2008 20:09 UTC+2

Greenstein Struggles

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Barry Greenstein has had a tough day in the office and one again hit a hurdle in the form of Justin Schwartz. Greenstein was the pre-flop raiser, making it 600 to go from early position. Schwartz, seated to the direct left of Greenstein, made the call and the two players took an innocent-looking flop of {7-Diamonds}

.

Greenstein made a continuation bet of 1,000 and Schwartz quickly called. The turn landed another brick with the {3-Hearts}

. Greenstein led out once again with a second barrel worth 1,500 in chips, and Schwartz once again made the call.

The river delivered a dangerous {K-Diamonds}

and Greenstein put on the brakes, allowing Schwartz to fire 3,000 into the pot. This bet represented nearly half of Greenstein's remaining stack and with so much money in the pot, Greenstein made a frustrated fold.

Greenstein is left with around 7,000, while Schwartz moves to over 22,000 in chips.

Tags: Barry Greenstein