€4,350 EPT Budapest Main Event Day 1a | 2008 PokerStars.com EPT Budapest

10-28-2008 03:09 UTC+3

PokerStars.com EPT Budapest Begins

[user46392]

Everyone's hung-a-ry for a piece of the action

Viva Las Vegas... Casino, Budapest!

Welcome to the Las Vegas Casino, Budapest, which for the next five days will be host to the first ever Hungarian EPT. Yes, this beautiful medieval city is about to be invaded by an estimated 500 poker players from all around the globe, including Luca Pagano, Dario Minieri, Vicky Coren, Marcel Luske, Johnny Lodden and the very lovely Kara Scott. Flying the flag for the home nation will be Denes Kalo, twice an EPT runner-up in Baden and Monte Carlo, and presumably keen to chalk up a long-awaited win to go with his so far impeccable results.

Join us here at Pokernews all week for up to the minute reporting and photos, direct from the card room floor from 1pm local time, as the players battle it out for a chunk of the estimated €2,000,000 prize pool.

10-28-2008 15:09 UTC+3

Shuffle Up & Deal

[user46392]

And they're off!

Level: 1

Blinds: 25/50

Ante: 0

10-28-2008 15:15 UTC+3

A Few Players Starting Today

[user46392]

The button started at seat 10.

Among those starting today are such poker luminaries as Katja Thater, Luca Pagano, Annette Obrestad, Dave "El Blondie" Colclough and Arnaud Mattern.

10-28-2008 15:18 UTC+3

Sold Out

[user24788]

According to tournament director Thomas Kresmer, the PokerStars.com EPT Hungarian Poker Open is sold out. In fact, it is over sold. It was originally capped at 500 runners however 540 entrants will be playing. 270 are in the mix on 27 tables for Day 1A. We will be playing eight one-hour levels.

10-28-2008 15:30 UTC+3

Two Germans and an Eel

[user24788]

I made a quick stroll through the tournament area. I spotted a table that included a pair of German WSOP bracelet winners in Katja Thater and Thomas Bihl. Spanish player Javier "Anguila" Etayo is also sitting at that table. Anguila means "eel" in Spanish.

Tags: Katja Thater

10-28-2008 15:42 UTC+3

Who's Here?

[user24788]

Also playing on Day 1a... Dani "Ansky" Stern (US), Joao Barbosa (Portugal), Erik Friberg (Sweden), Sorel Mizzi (Canada), and Marcel Luske (Holland).

10-28-2008 15:43 UTC+3

It's Early

[user46392]

There are still a few empty seats at this sold-out tournament, the property of persons unable to make it out of bed in time for the relatively early-morning start. Of those who did make it in time to hear "shuffle up and deal", a few players have yet to fully perk up -- Marcel Luske is among those making no attempt to hide the yawns. For Nicolas Levi as well, the strain appears to be just too much -- he's already slumped over the table, enjoying what looks to be a very vigorous massage from the lovely Frida.

10-28-2008 15:48 UTC+3