2007 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE)
Event 3 - £10,000 No-Limit Holdem Main Event
Day: 1a
Who's Here?
I'm covering the tables in the poker room downstairs at the Empire. There are some familiar faces such as Barry Greenstein, French actor Patrick Bruel (who made the final table of the EPT Barcelona nine days ago), Thor Hansen, William Thorson, and Ramzi Jelassi.
I spotted Jelassi simply because he has his name stitched onto the back of his hoodie. Perhaps more poker players should replicate Jelassi choice of wardrobe. It would be much easier to identify players.
The Hellmuth....
Phil Hellmuth has just made a grand entrance into the Empire Casino. In true Hellmuthian fashion, although not as late as he usually is, he was flanked by no less than 11 beautiful, half naked models, each one representing one of his WSOP bracelets.
Rumour has it that there is a black cab wrapped around a traffic light pole somewhere in central London.
Stars of Empire Casinos
Today at the Empire is like an episode of Celebrity Squares, but instead of sitting on top of each other, some of the world's most fearsome players are sat side by side - quite unique for the lucky railers.
One example is the bearded ballroom-dancing, card-throwing, cucumber-slicing bracelet winning Chris 'Jesus' Ferguson, perched next door to the meek, but discretely formidable figure of Jennifer Harman. And if that wasn't enough for the minnows on that table to worry about, they've got Robin Williams' doppleganger opposite, Andy Bloch, a worthy contestant in any poker tournament.
Throw Erick Lindgren, Ted Forrest, Barry Greenstein and Co. into the equation and it's like an episode of High Stakes Poker here today. Let's just hope the action's equally as entertaining...
Deeb Doubles Feklisov
The turn brought the and Mr. Feklisov announced, "Seven thousand," throwing in two red 5k chips. I had thought, with the blinds at 50/100, that these beauties might have been gathering dust for a little while, but no, people seem ready to gamble, £10k buy-in or no £10k buy-in. Freddy Deeb asked, "What have you got left?" before finding out it was 700 and putting him in. He called, of course, showing , while Deeb flipped the .
The river: "Thank you, my friend," said Feklisov as he scooped his pot.
Wahlroos Brings the Needle Out Early
Nenad Medic is getting a massage. The masseuse comments what a big guy Medic is, or something along those lines (Medic is NFL linebacker big).
Thomas Wahlroos, seated to the left of Medic, taps the massage therapist working on Medic, and says....
"You know, (pointing at Medic) he just finished playing Shrek in Shrek III"
Medic smiles and returns to his massage.
You Trying to Push Me Around?
"Are you trying to push me around?" she wondered aloud, before eventually folding her cards. Thomsen followed suit.
Kharitonov proudly displayed his for a flopped straight and a striaght flush draw and got a nice start to his tournament.
Tough table.....
On same table:
Chris Ferguson
Jennifer Harman
Andy Bloch
I just ran into Kirk Morrison:
Hektik: "What day are you playing, mate?"
Morrison: "Not sure."
Hektik: (points to table) "There is a spare stack there."
Morrison: "I think I'll play tomorrow!"
Late Arrivals, Surprise Arrivals
McCririck takes down a big pot
John McCririck has took down a 9000 chip pot from Cristiano Blanco, on a flop of:
Blanco bets 600, McCririck calls
Blanco bets 1100, McCririck calls
Blanco checks, McCririck bets 5000, Blanco stalls but eventually calls with
McCririck shows for a straight.