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

Level: 4

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 0

09-11-2008 19:42 UTC+3

William Thorson Gets Easy Double Up

[user40108]

Action folded around to the button who raised to 450. William Thorson, playing from the small blind, peeked at his cards and then tossed out 1,225. The big blind quickly folded and the button went into the tank.

With a look of contemplation and body language suggesting not calling, but folding or raising, he eventually pushed enough chips out to put Thorson all in. Thorson quickly called for a total of 4,150. The players showed:

Thorson: {A-Spades}

Opponent:

The button was drawing dead by the turn and Thorson is now sitting on about 8,500 chips.

09-11-2008 19:43 UTC+3

Daniel Negreanu Eliminated

[user4144]

The trick to finding a big hand is looking out for those expensive red chips in the middle, but sometimes it's simply not necessary. Whether it's the rasping, yet booming voice of Tim Vance, the shark invasion of Humberto Brenes, or the "Yeah, baby" of Scotty Nguyen, there are a number of surefire ways of spotting a big pot from afar.

One of those is the mere presence of Daniel Negreanu. If he so much as scratches his derriere, the onlooking crowd will close in to see the scratching action unfold. If he's all in, however, they'll well and truly swamp the table!

Although I arrived slightly late, Arnaud Mattern (my get out clause if my information is incorrect) filled me in on all the gory details. "Negreanu min-raised to 300," he began, "only to be called in about four spots. On the {Q-Clubs}

flop, Daniel led out for 800. His neighbor made it 2,400, Daniel pushed, and his opponent called."

On their backs, and Daniel was in trouble against {2-Spades}

, but not dead with {K-Clubs}

. However, no further clubs arrived, and Kid Poker was gone.

Tags: Daniel Negreanu

09-11-2008 19:52 UTC+3

Sander Hits the Bunker

[user4144]

On a

board, reigning champion Sander Lylloff led out for 2,100, only to be raised all in by Eric Koskas who shoved his entire stack of 13,000 over the line.

"You could have K-T," pondered Lylloff as the press edged closer.

With around 8,000 behind, Lylloff eventually opted for the fold, and was shown {A-Clubs}

for his troubles.

Several hands later, Lylloff's seat was empty, there were no chips at the felt, and the Dane was spotted trundling dejectedly towards the press room. Now I'm no Columbo, but I think he's out.

Tags: Eric Koskas Sander Lylloff

09-11-2008 19:58 UTC+3

Tim Vance Eliminated

[user25067]

A short-stacked Tim Vance opened for 700 from the hijack and the button called. The flop was {10-Diamonds}

. Vance led out for 2,000 and the button called. The turn came the {K-Hearts}

and after eyeing his opponent's chip stack for a moment, he moved all in. The button made the call.

In a massive cooler of a hand, Vance turned up {8-Hearts}

for a set, but his opponent flopped a higher set with {10-Hearts}

. The

on the river changed nothing and Vance rapped the table with a "nice hand, sir" and quickly made his exit.

Tags: Tim Vance

09-11-2008 19:59 UTC+3

Rutter Doubles Through

[user4144]

Stuart Rutter has doubled through and is now on over 20,000 in chips. With multiple limpers, he made it 1,200 to go from the small blind with pocket tens, and received one caller. On an 8-4-2 rainbow flop, he led out for 2,500 hoping his opponent would be tempted into making a move. That's exactly what happened. His opponent pushed with K-Q, Rutter called, and subsequently survived a harmless turn and river. Job done.

Tags: Stuart Rutter

09-11-2008 20:03 UTC+3

Blanco Knocks One Out

[user4144]

Cristiano Blanco has just eliminated player. On a {4-Clubs}

flop, the Italian called 3,650 with {9-Spades}

to find he was ahead against {A-Clubs}

. The turn and river both missed, allowing Blanco to lap up the pro. He's now on around 15,000.

Tags: Cristiano Blanco

09-11-2008 20:07 UTC+3

Stayin Alive...

[user40108]

Freddy Deeb, who has been on a short stack all day, has managed to coast into the first of two staggered dinner breaks with his chip stack still intact. Down to just under 1,500 chips, Deeb said "well...I'm still here," when asked how he was doing going into the 60-minute hiatus.

09-11-2008 20:31 UTC+3

In & Out

[user4144]

Three-and-a-half hours into the tournament, Joe Cassidy finally arrived in Hellmuth-esque fashion and took his seat. He needn't have got comfy though, as his €8,000 was to stretch to just one hand. A-K suited versus pocket aces, all in by the river, and that was that. Oh well, at least the weather's nice.

Tags: Joe Cassidy