€5,000 EPT Kyiv Main Event Day 1a | 2009 PokerStars.net EPT Kyiv

08-18-2009 13:58 UTC+3

A Couple More

[user66118]

We've found Raoul Refos in the mix of players out there, so add him to your list of notables. And just as we made the walk back to the media room, Alex Fitzgerald also took his seat at Table 10.

On the flip side, it appears that Demidov and Gerasmiova are going to try flight two tomorrow instead, though they're both mulling around the tournament room looking like they're ready to play.

Level: 2

Blinds: 75/150

Ante: 0

08-18-2009 13:35 UTC+3

You Say Kiev, I say Kyiv

[user66118]

There is a bit of debate here about the correct spelling of the city we're in, the capital city of the Ukraine. Up until 2006, it was commonly spelled K-i-e-v. About half of the population of Ukraine is Russian in origin, so the Russian spelling of Kiev was generally accepted. In 2006, though, the political climate dictated a near-universal change as the Ukrainian government tried to escape the shadow of the former Soviet Union. A number of the world's governments shifted over to the K-y-i-v spelling to mark the transition, using that spelling in all official documents.

Politics aside, we'll be calling it Kyiv for the rest of the tournament.

08-18-2009 13:33 UTC+3

Kravchenko and His Intimidating Image

Shamus

A player under the gun raised to 300 and got four callers, including Alex Kravchenko in middle position. The flop came {A-Diamonds}

. The preflop raiser continued with a bet of 1,000, and only Kravchenko called.

The turn was the {A-Hearts}

-- a second ace and third heart. The raiser paused a beat, then checked. Kravchenko, his usual stern expression partially obscured by sunglasses, took thirty seconds or so then checked behind.

The river was the {8-Diamonds}

. The original raiser took another look at his cards, then checked. Kravchenko fairly quickly fired 2,500, and his opponent folded. As he did he showed one card -- the {A-Clubs}

-- prompting a raise of the eyebrows and sneaky-looking grin from Kravchenko as he slid his cards face down to the dealer. The Russian has built his stack to 42,000.

Tags: Alex Kravchenko

08-18-2009 13:23 UTC+3

"Luca" is Italian for "Aggressive"

[user66118]

Luca Pagano has been involved in just about every pot since the cards went in the air, and we join another of his hands in progress just moments ago. A player under the gun had opened with a raise to 300, and Pagano made the call in the next seat over. When the table folded around to the button, the player there announced a re-raise to 1,000, flicking out a single red raising chip. The initial raiser ducked out, but Pagano came along with another call.

Heads-up then, the flop came out {8-Diamonds}

. Pagano reached for chips and led out into the pot with a bet of 1,200. His opponent shrugged his shoulders and made a shaky-handed raise to 3,000. Pagano capped his cards with a green chip and leaned back in his chair to consider his options. After about a minute, he uncapped those cards and used the free chip to slide them back to the dealer.

"Kings?" he asked. His opponent flashed the {Q-Hearts}

, and Pagano knocked the table. "I folded tens," he said. "Tens."

Pagano's activity cost him about 4,500 chips in the early going, but it is beginning to turn around for the Italian. Following that last hand, Luca has taken down a few small pots with river bets to bring his stack back close to 30,000.

Tags: Luca Pagano

08-18-2009 13:16 UTC+3

Sizing Up the Field

Shamus

A quick scan of the room shows approximately 125 players playing at the moment, seated around 16 tables, most of which are eight-handed. Registration remains open through Level 2 today, although it is expected most players who haven't come and are planning to play will be waiting until tomorrow's Day 1b.

Two more satellites today will likely also increase the numbers for tomorrow's field.

08-18-2009 13:06 UTC+3

Small Slip for Cernuto

Shamus

After that raucous opening ceremony, the mood in the room has quickly turned sober as the first level proceeds. Players are starting with 30,000 chips -- 300 big blinds -- so patience is the word as these first hands play out.

Just now we saw a hand in which three players, including Miami John Cernuto, limped, the small blind folded, and the big blind checked. The flop came {2-Spades}

, and all four checked. The turn was the {3-Spades}

, prompting a bet of 300 from the big blind. Only Cernuto called.

The river was the {9-Spades}

. This time the player in the big blind bet 800, and Cernuto gave him a quick look before tossing out the chips to call. Cernuto's opponent showed {10-Hearts}

for trip deuces, and Cernuto mucked. Cernuto slips just under 29,000 here in the early going.

Tags: Miami John Cernuto

08-18-2009 12:56 UTC+3

Pagano Splashing Around

[user66118]

We pick up a quick little hand on the flop in a heads-up raised pot. The board showed {6-Clubs}

, and Luca Pagano led out from the blinds with a bet of 400. His lone opponent made the call, and the turn card brought the {7-Hearts}

. Pagano checked this time, and he would eventually call a bet of 700 from his foe. On the river {4-Hearts}

, both players check-checked it down. The player in position showed first, tabling {A-Diamonds}

. Pagano couldn't beat it, slipping his cards quietly into the muck with a nod.

08-18-2009 12:52 UTC+3

A Few Notables

[user66118]

It looks as though most of the big names have chosen Day 1b rather than today. Still, we do have a few familiar faces in the field so far:

Alex Kravchenko
Luca Falaschi
Arnaud Mattern
Luca Pagano
Nikolay Evdakov
"Miami" John Cernuto

08-18-2009 12:39 UTC+3

"Shuffle Up and Deal!"

[user66118]

Tournament Director Thomas Kremser has just finished up some last-minute announcements to conclude all of the pre-game festivities. With those most famous words in poker, the cards are in the air and PokerStars.net EPT Season Six is underway!

We'll play seven sixty-minute levels today.