EPT San Remo Day 1b | 2008 PokerStars.net EPT San Remo

04-02-2008 14:14 UTC+2

Play To Begin Within The Hour

[user40108]

With just 52 minutes until the scheduled start time, it won't be long until Day 1b is underway. It will be a full nine levels of play again today with another 300+ players trying to make Day 2. Today's expected players include Team PokerStars Pros Daniel Negreanu, Noah Boeken, Lee Nelson, Vanessa Rousso, Isabelle Mercier and Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier. Stay with us as we bring you the action live from the San Remo Casino.

04-02-2008 15:14 UTC+2

Shuffle Up and Deal

[user40108]

The cards are in the air!

Level: 1

Blinds: 25/50

Ante: 0

04-02-2008 15:59 UTC+2

Antonio Esfandiari Hits the Jackpot

[user40108]

We caught up to this hand on the turn. There was just over 1,000 in the pot, and the board showed {9-Clubs}

. James Honeybone bet 700 and his lone opponent, Antonio Esfandiari, raised it 2,200 more. Honeybone thought for a bit, then declared "all in." Esfandiari instacalled and turner over {7-Diamonds}

. Honeybone jumped up in disbelief and then flipped over {Q-Hearts}

. There was no miracle for Honeybone on the river and he wandered off in disbelief. With that pot, Esfandiari is off to a good start with just over 18,000 chips.

Tags: Antonio Esfandiari

04-02-2008 15:59 UTC+2

A Rough Start

[user40108]

Details are scarce, but tournament veteran Chad Brown is off to a rough start. He is currently down to just 5,400 chips.

04-02-2008 16:12 UTC+2

Tough Table

[user50492]

One of the toughest tables out there today contains Daniel Negreanu, Juha Helppi, Joris Jaspers and Swedish footballer Thomas Brolin.

Other than that the well-known professional players are widely spread out with only a few name players per table.

Level: 2

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

04-02-2008 16:29 UTC+2

The Rich Get Richer

[user40108]

"The Magician" Antonio Esfandiari is on a roll. Just over an hour into play, he has almost tripled his starting chips. Esfandiari commands a stack just over 28,000.

04-02-2008 16:33 UTC+2

Wait...What?

[user40108]

Team PokerStars player Dario Minieri was just spotted seated at a table, shuffling a stack of chips and being interviewed on camera like it was any other day. Minieri played, and survived, yesterday's field prompting this journalist, and others, to wonder why he was playing. The mystery was quickly solved however when after the interview, Minieri took off his glasses, stood up, and gave the seat back to it's rightful owner. Apparently he was needed for one more "on table" interview.

Tags: Dario Minieri

04-02-2008 16:42 UTC+2

Thierry van den Berg Makes a Well Times Laydown

[user40108]

Thierry van den Berg raised to 300 from early position. A middle position player made the call as did the small blind. The big blind passed and the three saw a flop of {J-Clubs}

. The small blind checked and van den Berg tapped the felt as well. The middle position player bet 700. The small blind folded without much thought but van den Berg went into the tank for a bit. He seemed to agonize over the decision but eventually folded. The middle position player showed {Q-Spades}

and van den Berg looked relieved. A few moments later he said "I had ace-jack suited...but where can I go with it." He is still very much in the mix with just under 10,000 chips.

Tags: Thierry van den Berg