EPT Prague Main Event Day 1a | 2009 PokerStars.com EPT Prague

The PokerStars.com EPT is back in Prague for the third year, and this time PokerNews has come along for the fun.

This glorious, historic (and chilly) city was once the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, but it is playing host to major tournament poker this week. The Hilton Hotel Prague will be trying to contain all of the action on the felt, and the anticipation is building as players and staff have been mulling around the hallways and bars for most the day.

The preliminary events are already underway, and the numbers are strong so far. Closing out the 2009 half of the EPT schedule, our €5,000 Main Event is a fine prelude to the monstrous PCA, and it has attracted a strong field of Euros for two years running. Still, it's a surprise that we're already hearing rumblings that the soft cap of 600 players may be reached early.

Salvatore Bonavena is the defending champion here in Prague, his victory last year earning him more than three-quarter million euros and the first-ever EPT title for the Italians. Two years ago, Arnaud Mattern preceded him as the inaugural winner, and we expect to see the Team PokerStars Pro back here trying for another this week. He'll be joined by a slew of other Team Pros, though many of them have selfishly chosen the brilliant sunshine of the APPT Grand Final in Sydney instead.

We're slated for a noon start on Tuesday, (CET), and we'll play two separate Day 1 flights. Tune in to see who's come out to play, and to catch all of the action as it unfolds!