EPT Barcelona Open Main Event Day 1a | 2008 PokerStars.com EPT Barcelona Open

Level: 7

Blinds: 200/400

Ante: 50

09-11-2008 00:12 UTC+3

Shuffle Up and Deal!

[user40108]

The cards are in the air.

09-11-2008 00:00 UTC+3

Mike "Timex" McDonald has been eliminated at the hands of multiple EPT finalist Johannes Strassmann, I didn't catch McDonald's hand, but Strassmann had pocket tens and the young Canadian mumbled, "I normally win those ones" as he departed.

Tags: Johannes Strassmann Mike McDonald

09-11-2008 00:00 UTC+3

Players Are on a Break

[user40108]

Play will resume in ten minutes.

09-10-2008 23:59 UTC+3

Johannes Strassmann Doubles Through Mike "Timex" McDonald, Confusion Ensues

[user25067]

With the board reading {J-Hearts}

on the turn, Johannes Strassmann led into Mike "Timex" McDonald with a 4,000 bet. After thinking over his decision for several minutes, McDonald shrugged, saying, "I can't fold this," while pushing his entire stack of red 1,000 chips into the middle, setting Strassmann all in. He quickly called, turning up {Q-Hearts}

to McDonald's {K-Diamonds}

. The river was the {4-Spades}

and Strassmann earned the double-up.

However, the dealer pulled McDonald's whole stack of reds into the pot without counting down Strassmann's stack first to determine how much McDonald owed the pot. As he began to push it to Strassmann, McDonald, as well as the man on his left, Jason Mercier, piped up, saying that McDonald should be getting some of those reds back.

While the dealer took on a sort of "deer in the headlights expression," McDonald, Strassmann, and Mercier re-created the pot themselves, which indeed resulted in McDonald being refunded some of those red chips.

After all the dust settled, McDonald was left with 9,500 while Strassmann was up to 19,000.

Tags: Jason Mercier Johannes Strassman Mike McDonald Timex

09-10-2008 23:56 UTC+3

"Chino" Busts a Player, Tops 40K

[user40108]

Action folded to David "Chino" Rheem in middle position and he raised to 850. The player in the cutoff seat called, as did both blinds and it was four players to the flop.

The flop came {J-Clubs}

and Rheem led out for 1,800. The cutoff player moved all in for roughly 5,300 and after a quick fold by the blinds, Rheem said, "I call" as he turned over {8-Spades}

.

The cutoff seat looked disgusted as he tabled {A-Clubs}

. As he started to stand, the turn fell the {6-Clubs}

and Rheem said, "You got outs." The {9-Spades}

on the river was not one of them however as Rheem's full house was best. He took down the pot and took his chip stack to just over the 40,000 mark.

Tags: Chino David Rheem

09-10-2008 23:47 UTC+3

Teltscher Takes a Hit

[user4144]

Mark Teltscher is down to just over 8,000 in chips after doubling up a young North American opponent with {K-Diamonds}

against

. With two limpers before him, Teltscher raised it up to 1,700 before being reraised by the big blind for... "It's not even 3,500."

After both players had wished each other good luck, with a probable sense of insincerity, the dealer popped out a {3-Hearts}

flop, followed by a {7-Diamonds}

("Nine of diamonds," was the demand), before a {3-Spades}

river sealed the deal.

Tags: Mark Teltscher

09-10-2008 23:42 UTC+3

Hagen Pushes

[user4144]

Andeas Hagen just pushed in preflop for 8,000. I'm not sure if he'd limped or raised, but former footballer Hans Eskilsson thought for an age under-the-gun before finally folding A-Q.

Tags: Andreas Hagen Hans Eskilsson

09-10-2008 23:29 UTC+3

Vicky Coren Eliminated

[user40108]

A short-stacked Vicky Coren got her last 3,375 in the middle in what ended up being a coinflip situation. When the dust settled, it was Coren up against a single opponent who had her covered. The players showed:

Coren: {10-Clubs}

Opponent:

The flop sealed the deal as it fell {A-Clubs}

. The turn and river came the {Q-Spades}

and

respectively, and Vicky Coren made her way out of the tournament area.

Tags: Vicky Coren

09-10-2008 23:24 UTC+3

David Benyamine Forced to Fold

[user40108]

Action folded around to the cutoff seat and he raised to 600. David Benyamine, playing from the big blind, surveyed the situation before tossing out 2,025 chips. The player in the cutoff immediately tossed out a total of 6,500, putting the pressure right back on the Frenchman.

Benyamine thought for well over a minute, counting down his remaining chips multiple times before finally folding his hand. He was left with just under 14,000 chips after the hand.