EPT Barcelona Open Main Event Day 2 | 2008 PokerStars.com EPT Barcelona Open

09-12-2008 22:49 UTC+2

Mathieu Albano Eliminated by Jason Mercier

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Mathieu Albano's short stack sailed into the middle before the flop and Jason Mercier made the call. Albano's {Q-Clubs}

was up against Mercier's {8-Clubs}

. The flop was {6-Clubs}

but the

turned, filling Mercier's straight. The river fell a meaningless {K-Diamonds}

and Albano hit the rail.

09-12-2008 22:51 UTC+2

Set on the River for Pengue

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Salvatore Pengue wins the award for the most vocal celebration of the day, his exclamation of delight and punch of the air attracting the press in their droves. I only joined the table during the aftermath, but could see that Pengue had spiked a full house with {9-Clubs}

versus

on a

board.

Tags: Salavatore Pengue

09-12-2008 22:51 UTC+2

Shuffle Up and Deal!

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Play resumes.

Level: 15

Blinds: 1,500/3,000

Ante: 300

09-12-2008 22:53 UTC+2

Chad Brown Doubles Through

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Chad Brown (small blind) and Benjamin Mirsaidi clash on a {4-?}

flop, Brown's pocket fours in dominant shape against the German's {Q-?}

. A blank turn and river put Brown back up to 130,000.

Tags: Benjamin Mirsaidi Chad Brown

09-12-2008 22:58 UTC+2

Lady Saves Grishchuk

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I joined the action with Russian Alexander Grishchuk all in for around 45,000 with the decision on Mehdi Keack. As the other tables broke for the break, the press closed in on the last remaining table. With Keack mulling over his options, Grishchuk remained motionless under pressure, and at one point it was believed he'd actually fallen asleep. Nevertheless, Keack made the call to leave himself just 30,000 behind and showed {A-Clubs}

. Grishchuk tabled {K-Hearts}

. But in this game you witness more beats than a techno track, and this time was no different as the board came {2-Diamonds}

to give the Russian the pot.

Tags: Alexander Grishchuk Mehdi Keack

09-12-2008 23:18 UTC+2

Maceiras Not Letting Up as We Approach the Money

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Maria Maceiras, a local favorite, just took down a big pot when Jonas Klausen folded to her turn bet. We caught up to the hand on the flop of {Q-Hearts}

when Maceiras was facing a bet of 16,200. There was just over 22,000 in the pot and apparently Ms. Maceiras has been contemplating for quite some time.

Many players at the table were discussing how long she had been thinking, one even said it was, "About 20 minutes." Eventually the clock was put on her and she called the bet.

The turn fell the {Q-Spades}

and after a check from Klausen, Maceiras confidently slid out a bet of 32,000. Klausen gave up the hand and Maceiras's supporters applauded. She stacked the pot and took her chip count to roughly 175,000.

09-12-2008 23:19 UTC+2

Cornelis Alblas Doubles Through Axel Marten Albertsson

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Cornelis Alblas opened for 7,500 and Axel Marten Albertsson put in a raise to 21,000 from the button, making it about half of Alblas' stack to call. After much hemming and hawing, Alblas moved all in and perhaps moved by the pot odds he was getting, Albertsson made a reluctant call, turning up {A-Hearts}

to Alblas' {K-Clubs}

. No help for Albertsson on the board and Alblas doubled to just over 80,000.

09-12-2008 23:25 UTC+2

Eliminations Slow to a Trickle

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As we approach the bubble, the pace of play has slowed considerably. Only 11 players have departed in the post-dinner break hours and seven more need to bust before the rest of the field is in the money.

Though we were scheduled to play only eight levels today (or to 32 players), play may continue on for a bit longer, depending on how many are remaining when the clock runs out on Level 16. Stay turned.

09-12-2008 23:33 UTC+2