Main Event Day 1a | 2012 PokerStars.com EPT Madrid

We're back in Madrid for the first time since last year's Grand Final which was won by Ivan Freitez. It was shown in a delayed live-stream final which saw the Venezuelan bulldoze his way to the title and a first place prize worth €1,500,000. Once again we're here at the Grand Casino just outside the city centre, but this time it's just a regular EPT as players from all over the world arrive in the Spanish capital in the hope of winning a prestigious EPT title.

It's a second stop in Spain again this season after Martin Schleich won €850,000 in Barcelona, besting a field of 811 ahead of Dragan Kostic and Team PokerStars Pro Eugene Katchalov. The latter of these is on his way here, still attempting to complete poker's 'Triple Crown' - perhaps it will be second time lucky in Spain for the Ukrainian?

Team Pros playing today include Arnaud Mattern, Marcin Horecki, Henrique Pinho and Alex Kravchenko. We're expecting to be playing eight or nine levels today starting in around half an hour. We'll be here all day with all the news and action as well some top quality videos from Kristy Arnett and Laura Cornelius!