Main Event
Day 1b Started
2011 PokerStars.net European Poker Tour Berlin
Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2011 PokerStars.net European Poker Tour Berlin
Buy-in
€5,000
Prize Pool
€3,865,000
Entries
773
Level
32
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
20,000
Welcome to Day 1b of EPT Berlin!
![[user76023]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
We're back for the second flight of what is expected to be a very busy day here at EPT Berlin. We overheard the floor staff mention to the dealers that they already have 43 tables in use which would mean that number of runners is already around the 380 mark.
It's possible today also that if the tournament has a real late influx of players then we might have to go ten-handed in an emergency. We also might be using three floors for the tournament today, the ground floor as well as the first and second possibly in use.
Players playing today include Team PokerStars Pros Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier and JP Kelly while Team PokerStars SportStars Fatima Moreira de Melo and Boris Becker as well as last year's winner Kevin MacPhee and we will be starting in around 30 minutes.
Level: 1
Blinds: 50/100
Ante: 0
And We're Off...
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Three floors, nine levels, over 400 runners...
People Staying on the Top Floor...
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 |
Jan Heitmann Doesn't Know Whether to Disagree
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
The ever-amiable German pro Jan Heitmann is already getting involved while signing his player release form and getting to know his table. For some reason they've included a rather odd gambling-related questionnaire with a strongly agree-strongly disagree scale. As most people are, he's bemused by it.
"As a gambler, you must be able to identify swings. Strongly agree, strongly disagree - I'm not sure!" he chuckled. "I think there should be a golf question."
Heitmann is one of few Team PokerStars Pros to grace the downstairs (normally cash game) area at the moment. Those who didn't make it quite in time for kickoff at noon are still lining up neatly in the stairwell waiting to get their seat assignments. Among them a patient James Keys waiting to join a strong British contingent including Praz Bansi, James Akenhead, Jake Cody and JP Kelly.
Pagano Check-Raised Off First Hand
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Luca Pagano opened to 250 in the very first hand from late position but the big blind made it 800 to go.
The Italian Team PokerStars Pro flat-called to see a 
flop where the big blind continued the aggression with a bet of 1,200. Pagano flat-called to see a 
turn where his opponent now checked and Pagano quickly led out for 2,300 only to be check-raised to 7,500.
The Italian's cards went into the muck instantly.
Ascari Lost in Translation
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
You may remember excitable Italian Fabrizio Ascari from his shenanigans at EPT Vilamoura, where he finished in 10th place. His English (the official language of this tournament) wasn't fantastic back then and although it's improved a little since last summer, it's still somewhat idiosyncratic.
We found him just now negotiating a massage. He and the masseuse were haggling over the price. Eventually Ascari seemed satisfied.
"I call," he told her. She looked confused. Then, very loudly and clearly, "Yes."
The massage begins.
Gaps Closing
There are few empty seats now, and every other player seems to either have a title/bracelet or have graced the TV for many an hour. Today is going to be a tough one (though not for the media who are swarming happily all over the patch-less field).
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 |
Marcin Forwards
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Team PokerStars Pro Marcin Horecki came over to the press corner to talk to the Polish blogger.
"He's out," said Polish blogger told us.
"Oh, that's awful," said we.
But of course our Polish friend was completely lying to us - Horecki is not out, but rather up to a commanding 55,000 already. We wondered why he looked so happy.
Turns out that Horecki called an under-the-gun raise with pocket tens to find himself looking at a 
flop. Betting occurred, and they saw a blank sort of 
on the turn. More betting, and finally to the 
river. Most of Horecki's remaining chips went in, as you do with top full house. His opponent was holding 
for trips, and the Polish pro virtually doubled up.