2008 World Series of Poker Europe

Event 1 - £1,500 No Limit Hold'em
Day: 1a
Event Info

2008 World Series of Poker Europe

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
aj
Prize
£144,218
Event Info
Buy-in
£1,500
Prize Pool
£615,000
Entries
410
Level Info
Level
23
Blinds
20,000 / 40,000
Ante
5,000

David La Ronde = New Chip Leader

All the money went in on an {8-Hearts} {8-Diamonds} {5-Diamonds} flop, David La Ronde holding {8-Spades} {9-Spades} for trips and his disappointed opponent with {J-Spades} {J-Hearts}. The {9-Clubs} on the turn made La Ronde a full house and the {7-Clubs} on the river sealed up his victory. His opponent hit the rail and La Ronde stacked up his 71,000 chips, good enough for the current lead.

Kabbaj Gets the Bacon

John Kabbaj has managed to double his stack up to 30,000. He managed to get it all in preflop holding {A-?} {Q-?} versus an opponent's {J-?} {10-?}. The board blanked out and now suddenly Kabbaj has 50 percent more than the average stack.

Tags: John Kabbaj

He Sees Inside Souls

John Juanda
John Juanda
John Juanda raised to 2,400 from the cutoff and only found a call from the big blind player, before the flop came {6-Spades} {K-Diamonds} {5-Clubs}.

The big blind led out for a 3,600 bet that Juanda called, before the turn brought us the {3-Spades}. Once again the big blind led out for 5,000, which Juanda thought through and made the call.

The river {J-Diamonds} saw both players check it through. Juanda waited for his opponent to show his missed gutshot draw with {7-Diamonds} {9-Hearts}. Juanda showed the not-very-strong but winning {7-Hearts} {6-Diamonds}.

Juanda is up to 36,000 now.

Tags: John Juanda

Untz...Untz...Untz...

Ah yes. The throb of dance club electronica has returned to the Empire Casino, spilling over from what appears to be one of the property's discos. There hasn't been nearly the uprising we saw when the cabaret act went on an hour ago though a number of players have thrown their headphones back on in an attempt to drown it out.

I say bring back the cabaret. Next time I'm requesting "Luck be a Lady."

The Abacus Down for the Count

Michel Abecassis
Michel Abecassis
Michel "The Abacus" Abecassis got his remaining 9,200 in the middle before the flop, calling a reraise from Daniel Negreanu that set him all in. Negreanu turned up {A-Clubs} {K-Diamonds}, dominating Abecassis' {K-Spades} {Q-Clubs}. No help for him as the board ran out {K-Clubs} {7-Clubs} {6-Spades} {10-Diamonds} {5-Spades} and The Abacus hit the rail.

Meanwhile, Negreanu is up to 36,500.

Level: 8

Blinds: 400/800

Ante: 100

And Away We Go...

Action has resumed for what will be the last level of the evening.

The last level? What's that you say? Weren't they supposed to play ten levels, not eight?

The rate of bust-outs has been so rapid today that the tournament directors made the decision to conclude play at the end of Level 8 instead of the end of Level 10, excellent news for the players who will be able to catch some extra sleep (or hit the bar for a drink) tonight.

Color-Up

The action has been paused between levels while the green 25-denomination chips are colored up and raced off the tables.

Brian Johnson on the Upswing

The player in the hijack seat opened for 1,800, Brian Johnson raised to 3,400 from the button, the small blind flat-called and the hijack called as well. The flop came down {8-Spades} {7-Spades} {2-Clubs}. The small blind checked to the hijack, who bet 5,000, prompting an all-in shove from Johnson for 10,250. The small blind insta-mucked, but the hijack tanked a while, disgustedly mucking his cards in the end.

Coming back from the dinner break with 25,000 and dipping as low as 12,000 at one point, Johnson is now up to a healthy 30,000.