2007 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE)

Event 3 - £10,000 No-Limit Holdem Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info

2007 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE)

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
77
Prize
£1,000,000
Event Info
Buy-in
£10,000
Level Info
Level
21
Blinds
15,000 / 30,000
Ante
4,000

Level: 2

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 0

Poker Nappies

From the floor of the Empire Casino...

Whilst the players are rushing to the toilet, avoiding bad beat stories and chomping on their Kit Kats, I stumbled across one of Europe's young prodigies, Ramzi Jelassi, who is playing downstairs.

Barely out of his poker nappies, Ramzi is a formidable online player who has enjoyed moderate success live. He plays pretty much every comp under the sun, so it shouldn't be long before his skills prevail and we see him take down a major title.

"I'm sharing a table with Barry Greenstein and Thor Hansen," he informs me. "There hasn't been much action, we're actually just chatting away and having a good time" (... as you do at a £10,000 event).

"There was one hand," Ramzi continued. "Barry entered a raising war on a flop with a flush draw. He ran into a set but hit his flush, I think he had around 18k before than hand started."

Ramzi is still hovering around his starting stack, but could well be one to watch out for as the tournament progresses.

Tags: Barry GreensteinRamzi Jelassi

Greg Raymer Doubles Up With Set-Over-Set

THE FIFTY-- On a flop of {J-Clubs}{5-Hearts}{3-Hearts}, Wei Ma bet 2,000, Noel Furlong raised to 8,000 and Greg Raymer moved all in for 16,400 before putting on his trademark "Fossilman" glasses. After much consideration, Ma shrugged his shoulders and said "I'm all in," moving in another 21,000, and Furlong folded.

Raymer turned up {5-Diamonds}{5-Clubs} for middle set while Ma showed {3-Diamonds}{3-Clubs} for bottom set. The turn was the {Q-Spades}, the river was the {8-Clubs}, and Raymer took down the pot, shooting his stack up to nearly 42,000. Ma survived the hand and was left with 4,600 chips.

"I guess I could have folded," a surprisingly calm Ma wondered aloud, shuffling his now-short stack.

"I know how you feel, man. I've been in your place before," the Fossilman offered as a consolation.

Tags: Greg RaymerWei Ma

Patrick Bruel Doubles Through Sarah Taylor

From the floor of the Empire Casino...

We caught the action on the turn after Patrick Bruel shouted, "Where are the f-----g cameras?!?!"

There was an all in at the table and the dealers were instructed to halt action while the film crew got into position to film the remainder of the hand.

The flop was {K-Diamonds}{J-Hearts}{5-Clubs} and a monster of chips in the middle of the table. The pot was about 30,000 and Bruel was all in for his last 5,000. Sarah Taylor called his all in bet as Bruel wondered where the cameras were. The crew eventually arrived and the players turned over their cards.

Bruel: {J-Spades}{J-Clubs}
Taylor: {10-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}

Bruel was ahead with a set. The turn was the {K-Spades} and Taylor was drawing dead. The river was a meaningless {A-Diamonds} and Bruel doubled up.

Bruel increased his stack to about 41,000 as Taylor coughed up the chiplead and slipped to 33,000.

Tags: Patrick BruelSarah Taylor

Blanco cant hit a flop to save his life

Cristiano Blanco is not a lucky man, once again a premium hand has not held up. This time it was against his countryman Dario Minieri.

On a flop of {5-Diamonds}{8-Diamonds}{9-Diamonds}, he raises to 2000, and Minieri announces, "All in."

"I have the best hand, I promise," he tells Blanco.

Blanco folds and shows {K-Clubs}{K-Hearts}.

Minieri has {8-Spades}{9-Spades} for two pair.

And Blanco is feeling down on his luck.

Frustration for Annette_15

Stop re-raising me!
Stop re-raising me!
Annette 'What imaginative alias shall I use for online?' Obrestad is starting to show signs of frustration, her last raise being re-raising by the amicable, chatty Torres Santiago. Without hesitation, Annette folded (or hurled) her hand in with the discontent of Veruca Salt being told she couldn't go in the factory.

As Annette drops to 12,250, Spain's Santiago bobs his head above water for the first time today with 21k.

Tags: Annette OstebrodTorres Santiago

Ladies Day

Poker Diva - 42,000 and climbing
Poker Diva - 42,000 and climbing
So far, so good for the small but mighty contingent of women in the field. As this is written, 5 of the top 11 chip counts in the tournament are women.