2009 World Series of Poker Europe

Event 1 - £1,000 No Limit Hold'em
Day: 1a
Event Info

2009 World Series of Poker Europe

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
k8
Prize
£136,803
Event Info
Buy-in
£1,000
Prize Pool
£608,000
Entries
608
Level Info
Level
22
Blinds
8,000 / 16,000
Ante
2,000

Scalp for Martin

Alex Martin has 8,500 after eliminating a short stack. "He limp-called 450 preflop," confirmed Martin. On the flop, Martin called a straight push of 1,400 on an {A-Spades}{A-Clubs}{3-Spades}, albeit hesitantly, with {Q-Clubs}{Q-Hearts}... And he was good against a {7-Spades}{5-Spades} which failed to flush on a {3-Diamonds} and {J-Clubs} turn and river. "Was that a slowroll by me?" Martin later asked with as smile.

Tags: Alex Martin

It's Ain't Over 'Til the Fat Lady Sung

Ok, she is far from fat with respect to everything except her stack, but nevertheless -- we have a runaway chip leader in the shape of the diminutive and unassuming but clearly very deadly Sung Hee Yun. It was she who earlier busted India Storrar, and Ms. Yun has apparently been tearing up the table ever since. She's currently up to a thoroughly commanding 17,000.

Tags: Sugn Hee Yun

Devilfish Sinks

Devilfish has just departed before an array of railing eyes. All in on a {J-Spades}{K-Hearts}{4-Spades} flop with {A-Diamonds}{J-Diamonds} versus {4-Hearts}{4-Diamonds}, Devilfish was up to his neck in it, until an {A-Spades} turn lowered the level to his nipples. But it was all a tease, the {4-Clubs} on the river for overkill quads offering the crowd a brief moment of excitement and finally sinking its charismatic recipient.

Devilfish munched on a consolatory apple as left.

Tags: Dave Ulliott

Greekfish Not So Fishy

Andy Greekfish is having a marvellous time. He called me over to tell me why.

It appears that he raised under the gun with {A-?} {Q-?} and the gentleman on the button ("Let's call him Hammer," said Greekfish, as Hammer smiled apologetically) and Mike Ellis in the small blind both called.

The flop came down {J-?} {8-?} {5-?} rainbow and it checked around, so they proceeded to the {J-Hearts} turn, which put two hearts on the board. Ellis checked again and now Greekfish bet 250, but Mr. Hammer made it 750. "You have two hearts," said Greekfish, and called. The river came a blank and both players checked, and indeed Mr. Hammer showed two hearts that had failed to beat the Greekfish's {A-?} {Q-?}.

Then a few hands later Greekfish raised to 300 preflop and picked up one caller before our friend Mr. Hammer squeezed for 1,200. Greekfish called and the caller got out of their way. They saw a {J-?} {7-?} {4-?} flop and Mr. Hammer checked. Greekfish bet 1,200 -- and Mr. Hammer instantly raised to cover Greekfish. Greekfish called -- and his pocket sixes held up against Hammer's {A-?} {K-?}.

Greekfish is up to 9,000.

Tags: Andy Greekfish

Level: 4

Blinds: 75/150

Ante: 0

Kellett Continues to Flourish

Forget your knife, you could cut the tension with a toothpick here. I joined the action with Stephen Pearce betting 1,500 on the river of a {7-Diamonds}{2-Spades}{10-Spades}{9-Clubs}{4-Clubs} board, Richard Kellett making his man sweat with a deep dwell. After a while, he made the call and Pearce announced with a sigh, "Just ace high". Kellett revealed {K-Clubs}{9-Diamonds} to pick up the pot.

Several hands later, I spotted Kellett bumping and grinding again, yet this time he was the one betting 1,500 on the river. On this occasion, however, and with the boarding reading {9-Hearts}{2-Hearts}{A-Clubs}{4-Clubs}{A-Spades}, the bet was met with a fold and Kellett lapped up yet another pot.

Kellet has now established himself as one of the early pace-setters and is quickly closing in on that 15,000 mark.

Tags: Richard Kellett

A Local Tournament for Local Players

We're down to just 219 runners already from the 329 who started, and the whole of the back room has now been broken and its former denizens dispersed about the rest of the casino.

One interesting table features a nice generational mix of British natives -- Steve Bovis (8,000) and Surinder Sunar (6,000) representing the old school, and Richard "Chufty" Ashby (4,000) flying the flag for the online generation.

Devilfish Fighting to Stay Afloat

Whenever I make the ascent up to the second level, Devilfish always seems to be involved in the action: seeing flops, winking at opponents, making comments, and generally making his presence felt.

In his latest couple of encounters, he has tasted both victory and loss. First I saw him raise preflop then fold to a bet on a king high flop. "Show us tens?" he requested. His opponent didn't oblige. Then he found himself in a three-way pot with circa 1,000 in the middle, but managed to take it down by moving all in for 1,500 on the {J-Hearts}{5-Hearts}{K-Clubs} flop. "Taxi!" he joked as he flung in three 500 chips.

He doesn't have many chips, but like a fish out of water, he's flapping around, gasping for air and trying desperately to stay alive.

Tags: Dave Ulliott