Main Event Day 1b | 2010 PokerStars.com EPT Grand Final - Monte Carlo

04-26-2010 11:38 UTC+2

Day 1b Dawns Over Monte Carlo Bay

[user46392]

It's another beautiful day in Monte Carlo and somewhere in the region of 500 poker players are going to be spending it indoors as a whole new field take their shot at EPT greatness.

Among the stars who will be coming down from the poker firmament to take their seat in the Salle des Etoiles today are Team PokerStars Pros Daniel Negreanu, Luca Pagano, Dario Minieri, Vanessa Rousso, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier and Peter Eastgate.

Play is due to start in around half an hour and things seem to be running pretty much to schedule here so far. Dealers and chips are at the tables, and all we need now is some players, and for the roof to come off. Yes, the roof comes off. Ladies and gentlemen, don't go anywhere because this is going to be good.

04-26-2010 11:58 UTC+2

Players Dashing In...

[user76023]

The doors have been opened and soe of the first players in include:

Allan Bække
Pieter de Korver
Lex Veldhuis
Julian Thew
Antony Lellouche
Humberto Brenes
Jason Mercier
Dan O'Brien
Andy Black
John Juanda
Daniel Negreanu

Level: 1

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

04-26-2010 12:13 UTC+2

Negreanu Says Go

[user46392]

Daniel Negreanu said shuffle up and deal, so let's get this tournament started!

04-26-2010 12:20 UTC+2

Demidov Just Out Of Bed?

[user76023]

Ivan Demidov has just turned up wearing just a dressing gown from his room. We don't know if he lost a prop bet, but he's wearing his Team Pokerstars Pro patches over it so it looks like he's here for the long haul.

Tags: Ivan Demidov

04-26-2010 12:38 UTC+2

Tables of Death

[user46392]

There isn't really a single table of terror here today - it's more that every table is upsettingly tough and if perhaps you are a lowly qualifier and you've found yourself at a table that does not feature at least one Team PokerStars Pro and someone else you recognize off TV, you're doing well.

Witness:

- Table Johnny Lodden / Joe Serock / Richard Toth

- Table Luca Pagano / Andre Akkari / Dmitry Stelmak

- Table Marcel Luske / Carter Phillips / Jason Mercier

- Table Katja Thater / Matt Woodward / Bruno Fitoussi

- Table Max Lykov / Markus Golser / Keith "Camel" Hawkins / Kati Jerney

- Table Andy Black / Martin Wendt / Erick Lindgren / John Juanda

Crazy tournament, this. Crazy, crazy tournament.

04-26-2010 12:49 UTC+2

Stu-Pot

[user76023]

The cutoff raised to 250 preflop and Stuart made the call on the button.

The flop was {K-Diamonds}

and the original raiser fired out 325 but Rutter made it 1,300 to go. A quick call followed bring us to the {K-Clubs}

turn.

The cutoff fired out 1,500 this time but now Rutter raised to 6,000 which was more than the cutoff was prepared to pay, the latter folded as a result.

Tags: Stuart Rutter

04-26-2010 12:55 UTC+2

Gould Out

[user140344]

We caught the action on this hand between Peter Gould and an opponent as the chips were going in the middle on a board that looked like this:

{9-Hearts}