Andy Bloch was last seen being harangued in the bar by an intoxicated local with little knowledge about the game. Bloch was nodding politely, despite having just bitten the dust.
That elusive bracelet will have to wait another year.
Jason Mercier final tabled this event year, eventually falling in fourth place and taking home £267,267. This year, a run to the final table doesn't look to be the favorite, but it is early on. Mercier has had somewhat of a glum look on his face for most of the day since getting up to about 50,000 earlier.
On this hand, he limped under the gun and the next player raised to 1,400. Mercier called and the two saw a flop of . Mercier check-called a bet of 2,500 from his opponent before the peeled off on fourth street. Mercier checked and his opponent set him all in after looking at his stack size. Mercier has just under 17,000 left in his stack and went into the tank for a long while. Eventually, he gave it up and was left shaking his head.
There appears to be an unusual post-prandial slump in progress. Usually the return after eating leads to shorter stacks taking the plunge or some snooze-related mistakes which create conflicts, but looking round the remaining tables there's hardly a hole card seeing the light of day face up.
So instead, here are some examples of what people at the table are doing as a sideline to the tournament itself:
Andy Bloch and Toby Lewis have iPads, which appear to have infinite battery life and are apparently (according to another source)used for watching one's own Twitter feeds or wrestling videos.
Allen Cunningham is playing phone-based chess.
Isabelle Mercier is writing what looks like postcards ("London is lovely, apart from the rain. Today I check-raised John Cernuto. Wish you were here...).
Two other people had kindle electronic books open through the early levels.
It makes one wonder what stage of the tournament is interesting/important enough to just play it as one's sole occupation. It's true early on Day One is slow going, with lots of potential for folding and sitting there, or playing pots which benefit stacks only slightly, however; I would be there will be no such distractions come Day Two.
Erik Seidel, Jason Mercier and a third player took a flop of . Seidel and Mercier checked in that order before the next player fired 2,100. Seidel threw in a raise to 6,000 and Mercier folded. Seidel's opponent then moved all in for 23,300. After a minute of thought, Seidel said, "Ok, you got it," and tossed his hand away. He was left with 43,000 in his stack.
With 20,000 in the middle and a board waiting patiently on the felt, Scott Montgomery (small blind) slid enough chips across the felt to put Jeff Lisandro (under the gun) all in.
Lisandro instantly pushed his stack across the line, almost beating Montgomery into the pot, and added, "If you've got me, then good luck to you."
But Montgomery didn't "have" him, his one rung down from Lisandro's to award the Italian/Australian the pot.
Four levels are in the books, and we've got two more to play. But first, dinner! Everyone's getting a little hungry (or at least we are), and we'll take a 90-minute break for some munchies.
See you back here at 8:50 p.m. for some after-dinner pokering!
Despite a promising start since his late, and somewhat flamboyant arrival, it looks as though "Poker Brat" Phil Hellmuth will be heading into the 90-minute dinner break with a less than satisfactory stack.
I joined the action of the turn of a board where Hellmuth had led for 4,500. After a moment or two of deliberation his opponent made the call.
The river was the , and deliberately and meticulously, Hellmuth counted out 10,500 and chucked it across the line. A brief pause later and the call was made, his opponent tabling to scoop the pot.
Hellmuth, clearly disgruntled, shook his head and waved his hand in the air in frustration before throwing his cards into the muck.
As a result of this last-minute crash, Hellmuth will return with a depleted stack of 20,500. It's a shame the break arrived; the media could have been treated to some fireworks.
![[user76023]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
. Mercier check-called a bet of 2,500 from his opponent before the 
peeled off on fourth street. Mercier checked and his opponent set him all in after looking at his stack size. Mercier has just under 17,000 left in his stack and went into the tank for a long while. Eventually, he gave it up and was left shaking his head.
. Seidel and Mercier checked in that order before the next player fired 2,100. Seidel threw in a raise to 6,000 and Mercier folded. Seidel's opponent then moved all in for 23,300. After a minute of thought, Seidel said, "Ok, you got it," and tossed his hand away. He was left with 43,000 in his stack.
. Juanda showed 
.
flop favoured the Team Full Tilt Pro, before the 
turn and 
river sealed the deal to keep him alive.
board waiting patiently on the felt, Scott Montgomery (small blind) slid enough chips across the felt to put Jeff Lisandro (under the gun) all in.
one rung down from Lisandro's 
to award the Italian/Australian the pot.
, and deliberately and meticulously, Hellmuth counted out 10,500 and chucked it across the line. A brief pause later and the call was made, his opponent tabling 