€888 Main Event
Day 1a Started
2023 888poker LIVE Bucharest
€888 Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1a
2023 888poker LIVE Bucharest
Buy-in
€888
Prize Pool
€138,898
Entries
191
Level
25
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
100,000
Entries
52
Players Left
23
Online Hopefuls and Pros Descend on Romanian Capital For the Start of 888poker LIVE Bucharest
Bucharest, the bustling capital of Romania, plays host to a mixture of seasoned pros and online qualifiers when the €888 888poker LIVE Bucharest begins at 5 p.m. local time.
Day 1a is the first of four opening flights for this event, held at Poker Room Bucharest in the heart of this ancient city. Players receive a starting stack of 88,000, with unlimited reentries allowed until the start of Day 2. Qualifiers can earn their way into the tournament on 888poker for as little as $0.01, with the main online qualifier featuring a buy-in of $109.
Play on the first three starting flights consists of 11 45-minute levels, with a turbo Day 1d flight featuring 20-minute levels. There is a 15-minute break after every three levels. The remaining field from the four opening flights combines for Day 2 on August 13, with the final table taking place on August 14 and ending with the crowning of a new champion.
Past Champions
| Year | Champion | Entries | Prize | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Slaven Popov | 272 | €35,000 | Alexandru Arnautu |
| 2019 | Darius Neagoe | 505 | €62,300 | Nicolae Bogdan |
| 2018 | Andrei Racolta | 469 | €71,042 | Krzysztof Chmielowski |
It was Slaven Popov who lifted the trophy last year. The Bulgarian, who had deep runs in several major tournaments over the previous decade, finally broke through with his first live tournament win by defeating a field of 272 players to earn €35,000 after a heads-up deal. Last year’s tournament marked the return of the festival after a three-year hiatus, when local Darius Neagoe prevailed over 505 opponents. Andrei Racolta, another native Romanian, won the inaugural event in 2018.
Bucharest is the land of Dracula, beautiful parks, and stunning architecture. And, in five days' time, a new poker champion will be crowned in this burgeoning metropolis. PokerNews will be following the action the entire way providing live updates.
Shuffle Up and Deal
The players are in their seats and Day 1a is now underway with 18 players currently registered.
Level: 1
Blinds: 100/300
Ante: 300
Early Entries
Level 1
: Blinds 100/300, 300 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
88,000
88,000
|
88,000 |
|
88,000
88,000
|
88,000 |
|
||
|
88,000
88,000
|
88,000 |
|
88,000
88,000
|
88,000 |
|
|
88,000
88,000
|
88,000 |
|
88,000
88,000
|
88,000 |
|
|
88,000
88,000
|
88,000 |
|
|
88,000
88,000
|
88,000 |
|
|
88,000
88,000
|
88,000 |
|
88,000
88,000
|
88,000 |
|
88,000
88,000
|
88,000 |
|
88,000
88,000
|
88,000 |
|
||
|
88,000
88,000
|
88,000 |
|
|
88,000
88,000
|
88,000 |
|
|
88,000
88,000
|
88,000 |
|
88,000
88,000
|
88,000 |
|
88,000
88,000
|
88,000 |
|
|
88,000
88,000
|
88,000 |
Arbel Shows a Baby Flush
Level 1
: Blinds 100/300, 300 ante
David Arbel and Yosef Avneya built a pot of around 2,000 heading to the turn on a board of J♣Q♠6♣7♣. Arbel, under the gun, then bet 1,000 and Avneya called in the big blind.
The river came the 5♠ and Arbel bet another 2,000 after Avneya checked. Avneya quickly called and Arbel showed 4♣2♣ for a flush to take down the early pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
93,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
|
|
83,000
-5,000
|
-5,000 |
Delea Wins Without a Showdown
Level 1
: Blinds 100/300, 300 ante
Alexandru Marcu raised to 700 from under the gun and received a call from Adrian Alexandru Delea on the button.
The flop came K♣K♠9♦ and Marcu continued for 600. Delea called and both players checked the 4♠ turn.
Marcu fired out another 1,500 on the J♥ river and Delea quickly called. Marcu instantly threw his hand into the muck and Delea took the pot without a showdown.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
105,000
17,000
|
17,000 |
|
|
85,000
-3,000
|
-3,000 |
|
|
||
Budai Raises Big on the River
Level 1
: Blinds 100/300, 300 ante
Four players went to the 8♠5♦Q♦ flop as action checked to Alexandru Budai under the gun who bet 1,500. Only Liviu Bogdan Olaru called on the button.
The turn came the K♥ and Budai bet 4,000. Olaru again called as the K♠ fell on the river, where Budai slowed down and checked.
Olaru then fired out 3,000 and Budai tanked for a moment before throwing in a raise to 20,000. Olaru leaned back in his seat and gave the decision some thought before calling.
Budai turned over K♣Q♥ for the nuts, kings full of queens, and Olaru surrendered the big pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
130,000
42,000
|
42,000 |
|
|
65,000
-23,000
|
-23,000 |
Friese Raises Out Stoian
Level 1
: Blinds 100/300, 300 ante
Alexandru Stoian raised to 800 from the hijack and received two callers, including Timothy Friese in the big blind.
All three players checked the 3♣A♠4♣ flop as the 6♦ fell on the turn. Action checked around to Stoian who then bet 1,500.
Only Friese stuck around to see the 7♦ river, where Stoian bet another 5,000. Friese then put in a raise to 15,000 and Stoian snap-mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
95,000
95,000
|
95,000 |
|
|
92,000
4,000
|
4,000 |
Berinde Keeps Firing
Level 1
: Blinds 100/300, 300 ante
Three players built a pot of around 2,500 heading to the flop of 8♣7♠2♦ when action checked to Bogdan Berinde on the button who bet 1,000.
Andrei Ciuca called under the gun as they went heads-up to the J♣ turn. Ciuca checked again and Berinde then bet 4,000. Ciuca called and the 10♦ fell on the river.
Berinde then fired out 6,400 and Ciuca paused for a moment before sliding his cards into the middle.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
105,000 | |
|
|
75,000
-13,000
|
-13,000 |