€5,300 EPT San Remo Main Event Day 1a | 2009 PokerStars.com EPT San Remo

04-19-2009 00:52 UTC+3

Kravchenko Hanging in There

[user46392]

Alex Kravchenko, from the big blind, was the sole caller of an under-the-gun raise. He and the raiser saw a {Q-Spades}

flop. Kravchenko checked and his opponent bet 1,675. Kravchenko raised to 4,500 and his opponent quickly passed.

Kravchenko on a below-average 16,000 or so.

Tags: Alex Kravchenko

04-19-2009 01:06 UTC+3

Timex and Glo

[user66118]

Mike "Timex" McDonald came unwound in this level, but our Gloria Balding had a chance to talk to the young pro while he still was still fighting it out on the felt.

Tags: Mike McDonald

04-19-2009 01:07 UTC+3

The tournament clock has been paused with 13 minutes and 59 seconds remaining in Level 8. The dealers have been instructed to deal five more hands at each table, race off the orange (T25) chips and then call it a night.

04-19-2009 01:17 UTC+3

Game Over for Ludo

[user46392]

Shortly before the end of play, Ludovic Lacay succumbed. He pushed all in for 15,000 to a raise, but the gent immediately to his left woke up with aces and Lacay's {A-?}

couldn't pull any miracles out of the deck for him.

Tags: Ludovic Lacay

04-19-2009 01:20 UTC+3

Current Standings

[user46392]

As Day 1a wraps up, a few new chip leaders have emerged, among them Croatia's Dragan Galic on 78,000 and cheerful Dutchman Constant Rijkenburg on 75,000, although he unconvincingly claimed 7,500. Asa Smith still seems to be just ahead of the pack though on 80,000, barring last-hand accidents. Former chip leader Jonas Danielsson, on the other hand, is down to 34,000.

04-19-2009 01:28 UTC+3

Wrap It Up

[user75032]

The cricket-like clicking of chips has fallen silent here at the San Remo Municipal Casino. That means we've come to the end of Level 8 and have completed Day 1a of the 2009 PokerStars.com European Poker Tour San Remo event. Hoist a glass, smoke a cigarette, take a bubble bath or do whatever it is you do at the end of a long day. You've earned it.

There were a staggering 578 players in the field today, spread across three rooms on the second floor of the casino. Annette Obrestad, Casey Kastle, Chad Brown, Greg Raymer and Dario Alioto were some of the biggest names who were in the field at the start of play, but will not be returning on Monday for Day 2.

By the end of the night there were several players competing for the title of Top Dog. Our survey of the room at day's end didn't find any player with more chips than Asa Smith's 80,000 -- although several were close. We'll have the official counts tomorrow morning after the chip bags are all logged by the tournament organizers, but until then we'll go out on a limb and call Smith the overnight chip leader.

Tomorrow, we get to rewind the clock and re-live the joy of Day 1a when the other half of the field slings the chips around for the first time. Day 1b is scheduled to start at 2pm local time. Expect the field to be close to the maximum of 610 players.

Until then, you can find us at the bar.

Tags: Asa Smith

€5,300 EPT San Remo Main Event

Day 1a Completed