Event 1 - £1,500 No Limit Hold'em Day 1b | 2008 World Series of Poker Europe

Level: 5

Blinds: 150/300

Ante: 25

09-20-2008 18:37 UTC+2

Break it Down

[user38449]

The tournament clock is once again on pause while the remaining players go on their second break of the day.

09-20-2008 18:28 UTC+2

Short Stacks Want Longer Break

[user46298]

Laak - Wants Diamond Studden Napkin Rings Now, Probably.

That must be the reason why, with just five minutes left until the current break, so many short stacks were simultaneously getting it in, attempting to come back with chips, or enjoy the frankly unusually nice London weather tonight. Two who did not succeed in the former i.e. busted are Steinar Prestnes and Sebastian Bauer - leaving table Laak down to just five players at one point.

One who came upstairs to make up the numbers was an equally short-stacked David Williams, chewing on what looked like a glass cocktail stirrer. No, it's a diamond-encrusted toothpick holder. Laak eventually noticed this, saying with a laugh, "What do you get for the guy that has everything?" That, clearly.

Meanwhile Jeff Kimber, too, had gone dangerously close to the felt, before getting it in preflop with {K-Diamonds}

called by

. Double through to 5,000 for him.

Tags: David Williams Jeff Kimber Phil Laak

09-20-2008 18:26 UTC+2

No Love from the Security Guards for Annette Obrestad

[user38449]

We just bumped into Annette Obrestad in the Empire's main hallway, just inside the entrance and while she's long gone from today's event, she's still making headlines.

She exited the building for a bit after the tournament and when she attempted to re-enter, one of the guards out front asked to see her ID.

Annette then told us she pointed to the big banner that's hanging on the building outside and said, "Uh.... That's me!"

The guard had a look, but, apparently unconvinced, he still demanded to see proof of her identity! Man... Life is hard when you're a 20-year-old globally known poker superstar!

Tags: Annette Obrestad

09-20-2008 18:24 UTC+2

Also Recently Eliminated

[user46392]

Richard Berridge is also no longer in the running, smacking his {A-?}

into the

of newly-aflame Remy Biechel. Biechel now has 18,000.

Tags: Remy Biechel Richard Berridge

09-20-2008 18:20 UTC+2

Higgins Blows Up In a Hurricane

[user46392]

Simon Higgins raised to a standard-sized 700 from the button, and Thomas Marchese in the big blind gave it some thought before making it 2,200 to go. Call.

The flop came down {9-Clubs}

and after a moment's pause, Marchese bet out 2,600. Higgins tried to make it 5,000 but was told that the minimum raise was to 5,200. 5,200 it was, leaving Higgins just 3,500 behind. Marchese now pushed, Higgins had to call ("I have to call," sighed he) and they were on their backs.

Marchese: {J-Spades}

Higgins:

for not much of anything

Turn: A decisive {9-Spades}

River: A pretty yet irrelevant {5-Hearts}

Higgins is out, and Marchese continues to move ever upwards.

Tags: Simon Higgins Thomas Marchese

09-20-2008 18:18 UTC+2

Shaken, Not Deterred

[user4144]

Dave 'Devilfish' Ulliott will have to wait for another few days before vying for his second World Series bracelet. After a frustrating day, he sang his swan song by moving all in on a T-9-9-7-6. Devilfish was on the nick, and was duly caught by Mikael Martini who revealed T-6. Devilfish mucked.

"I've been getting outplayed by these donks all day," concluded Devilfish as he departed.

Martini, meanwhile, seemed undeterred by the accusation and simply scooped up the pot.

Tags: Devilfish Mikael Martini

09-20-2008 18:09 UTC+2

Hassabis Goes Up; Aksoy Goes Down

[user4144]

With over 10,000 lying patiently in the middle adjacent to a board of {7-Hearts}

, Demis Hassabis moved all in for precisely 4,125. Metin Aksoy, who flew out of the blocks early doors, was now left with a seemingly torturous decision as he squirmed awkwardly in his seat like a frog in a blender. Eventually, he made the call, leaving himself just 3,300, before finding that his {A-Diamonds}

was in dire straights against Hassabis' {10-Hearts}

. No miracle on the {3-Spades}

river gave Hassabis the pot.

Tags: Demis Hassabis Metin Aksoy

09-20-2008 18:03 UTC+2

I'll Be Back - Actually I'm Already There

[user46392]

Tim "The Timinator" Blake is on the rampage, running over to excitedly tell me that he had pocket deuces under the gun and managed to flop quads, giving him a full double-up. He's now up there with the leaders on 23,000.

Tags: Tim Blake