2009 World Series of Poker Europe

£10,000 WSOPE Main Event
Day: 1a
1a1b2345
Event Info

2009 World Series of Poker Europe

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
10♠10♣
Prize
£801,603
Event Info
Buy-in
£10,000
Prize Pool
£3,340,000
Entries
334
Level Info
Level
30
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
15,000
Sort

Day 1 Starting Any Minute Now

[user46392]
[user46392]
Good morning and welcome back to the Empire Casino in London, where we are just minutes away from kick-off in Event #4, better known as the Main Event.

A whole host of big name pros have either stumped up the £10,000 ($16,000 or so) required to play, or have talked their respective sponsors into paying it for them -- but however our runners made their way into this tournament, this is the place to be in the poker world right now.

Jack Effel is on the mic and urging players to take their seats. There's a real buzz in the air, like it's a £10,000 tournament and someone's going to win a bracelet at the end of it. Please stand by...

Those Immortal Words

[user4144]
[user4144]
Empty seats may be scattered across the floor (Hellmuthitus is clearly catching), but that didn't stop Doyle Brunson kicking things off with those immortal words (with a little added extra), "Good luck to everybody, let's shuffle up and deal."

Level: 1

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

Table of Death

[user46392]
[user46392]
As expected, this is an impressive field. But in the back room upstairs, where for some reason they're playing really loud samba music which various players are complaining about, lurks this terrifying table:

- Chris Moorman
- Andy Black
- Alex Kravchenko
- David Pham
- Erik Seidel

Interesting Match-Ups

[user4144]
[user4144]
There are several tables on the upper level, three of which are concealed in what is like a secret alcove. Passing through the curtain and being given the go-ahead by security, it's obvious why, as the first face I meet is Phil Ivey, who is currently sharing a table with James Sudworth, Ben Grundy and a talkative Erik Friberg.

Also in the room you have the aforementioned Table of Death, which also includes multiple EPT finalist Christian Harder, as well as another table consisting of Mike Matusow, Beth Shak, Nikolay Evdakov and Peter Gould.

"What happened to you in the Omaha tournament?" asked The Mouth as Gould took his seat. "You had a load of chips." "Chelsea were playing," replied Gould. I hope Chelsea aren't playing today.

Happy Days for Golser

[user46392]
[user46392]
Markus Golser is already up to 40,000 after winning a big pot from an unhappy tablemate. Golser had aces, the tablemate mucked, and then spent ages saying, "Come on already, next hand," before realising he had to hand his mucked cards back to the dealer before that could be achieved.

Tags: Markus Golser

"An Interesting Hand"

[user4144]
[user4144]
Within just the few hands, a meaty hand reared its head on the Table of Death. I joined the action with Chris Moorman (small blind) leading out on a {8-Spades}{5-Clubs}{5-Diamonds} flop for 1,850. One player (hijack) called, only for Erik Seidel (button) to make it 5,200 to play.

Back round to Moorman, and with a deftly silence bestowing the table, he made the call. The sandwiched played folded and the dealer dealt out the {K-Spades}. Check from Moorman, and Seidel spent no time in betting 6,500. A disgruntled Moorman made the fold.

"That was an interesting hand," commented Black with a mischevious grin plastered across his face. "What did you make of that, Dave [Pham]?" Pham remained silent.

Tags: Chris MoormanErik Seidel

Breaking Up

[user4144]
[user4144]
It would appear as though they expected more players - either that, or they were extra cautious - as many tables are already being broken up.

One table that has remained in tact, however, includes Sean Deeb, Men Nguyen and Jason Mercier. There table is just four-handed. I certainly don't envy that fourth chap.

Double Up for Viffer Sparks Keston Unpleasantness

[user46392]
[user46392]
Actually, we don't know whether these two things are related, but we arrived at Robin Keston's table to witness him having a go at the trying-very-hard-to-remain-sanguine dealer. "You're doing everything wrong," he was angrily telling the unfortunate lady, who was doing her best to ignore him. "This is only a World Series Main Event," he continued in an effort at sarcasm. Again, the dealer did not react.

"Well, I think you're doing everything right, sweetie," piped up David "Viffer" Peat. And not surprisingly -- he'd just knocked out another player to give him an early double up and an easy first few levels.

No idea what was going on there, to be honest, nor what flicked the mean-switch in Keston's head, but ESPN were lapping it up. They were still filming the table as we crept away, all drama over.

Tags: Robin KestonViffer

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