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

09-12-2008 01:12 UTC+3

High-Stakes Blackjack

[user4144]

We may all have our eyes glued to the action from the card room, but back on the casino floor, it's the high-stakes blackjack that has been attracting a crowd. At €1,000 a hand, the Mizrachi brothers are thrilling the onlooking rabble as they gamble the night away.

A few yards down there is also a €50/100 cash game going on, but there's nobody famous in that, so no one cares.

09-12-2008 01:15 UTC+3

Julian "The Grinder" Thew

[user4144]

It's not often Julian Thew grinds, but today he's ground like no man has ever ground before. After doubling up to 9,500, Thew dropped back down to 5,000 after "folding marginal hands to a few raises," before doubling up once again with kings versus queens. Now with 10,500, Thew is over his starting stack for the first time today and is celebrating accordingly. As a man who is normally out in level one, or has half the chips in play by the end of the day, I'm beginning to wonder if it's even him!

Tags: Julian Thew

09-12-2008 01:21 UTC+3

Rule Britannia

[user4144]

The UK doesn't have too many representatives here today, but those who did stump up the €8,000 buy-in seem to be hanging in, if failing to threaten the chip lead.

Former GUKPT winner Mazhar Nawab, for example, has been located. He just check-called 1,200 on an {8-Clubs}

flop before folding to a 2,500 bet on the {4-Hearts}

turn, and being shown {A-?}

for his troubles. Nawab still has 45,000 though.

Other members of the British contingent include Surinder Sunar with 25,000, Richard Wheatley on 37,000, Stephen Chidwick with 42,000, Robin Keston on 40,000 and Stuart Rutter with 10,000, the latter somewhat chagrined after folding two pair to a raise on the river. "I'm pretty sure he had me," he concluded.

09-12-2008 01:26 UTC+3

Mama Mia!

[user4144]

With two limpers before him, Dario Minieri decided this was the time to push, but his {6-?}

was swiftly given a spin by {A-?}

. Not to worry though, as the poker gods have a soft-spot for scarf-wearing, Porsche-driving bracelet winners, and duly popped out a dramatic {2-?}

board to give the Italian pro the pot with a straight on the river.

Minieri, who is the only PokerStars-sponsored pro remaining in today's pool, is now on 15,000, but still short.

Tags: Dario Minieri

09-12-2008 01:30 UTC+3

Sebastian Ruthenberg = New Chip Leader

[user40108]

Despite already being chip leader going into this hand, Sebastian Ruthenberg put an exclamation point on it.

Action folded around to the cutoff seat and he raised to 1,700. Ruthenberg called from the button and action was heads up.

The flop came {9-Diamonds}

and both men checked. The {7-Spades}

hit the turn and after a check from the cutoff, Ruthenberg tossed out a bet of 3,000. He was called and the {J-Spades}

hit the river. The cutoff checked again and Ruthenberg slid 5,500 across the line. His opponent contemplated for a bit, seemingly genuinely unsure, but eventually made the call. Ruthenberg tabled {9-Hearts}

and his opponent quickly mucked.

Ruthenberg is, for now, our current chip leader with just over 110,000.

Tags: Sebastian Ruthenberg

09-12-2008 01:32 UTC+3

Mizzion Accomplished...Theo Tran Eliminated

[user40108]

After middle-position player moved all in for roughly 7,500 and Theo Tran reraised all in for his whole stack of about 18,000, Sorel Mizzi cold-called both bets and the players showed:

Mizzi: {Q-?}

Tran:

Opponent:

Mizzi's queens held as he bounced two players to the rail and took his own stack over the 40,000 mark.

09-12-2008 01:35 UTC+3

Arnaud Mattern Doubles Through Mats Rahmn

[user25067]

Arnaud Mattern and Mats Rahmn got it all in preflop, Rahmn with a pair of deuces and Mattern the {7-Hearts}

. The flop was {J-Diamonds}

, the turn was the {6-Diamonds}

and the

spiked on the river, doubling Mattern up to 20,000. Rahmn was left with only 6,300.

Tags: Arnaud Mattern Mats Rahmn

09-12-2008 01:48 UTC+3

Cristiano Blanco Eliminated

[user4144]

It would appear as though most players are happy to fold their way into Day Two after a hard day's work, but some are being forced to sweat their final moments as they are dealt premium hands. Sadly, the day has come to an abrupt end for Italian Cristiano Blanco. He found pocket tens, but ran into pocket aces. Although he spiked a ten on the river, the ace on the turn had already sealed the deal.

Tags: Cristiano Blanco

09-12-2008 01:48 UTC+3

Recent Eliminations

[user25067]

Shaun Deeb, Alexia Portal, Henrik Gwinner, and Dario Minieri are all among the recently departed.

09-12-2008 01:49 UTC+3

Fighting for the Chip Lead

[user4144]

As we approach the final ten minutes of the day, it would appear as though Swedish player Mikael Lundell has not only maintained his monster stack, but also added to his ever-increasing towers. He currently has 102,000 and was, if my source is correct, the first player to break that magic 100,000 mark.

Tags: Mikael Lundell