£5,200 EPT London Main Event Day 1a | 2008 PokerStars.com EPT London

10-01-2008 18:49 UTC+2

Shaniac Smoked

[user24788]

Shane "Shaniac" Schleger is busto. I caught the action on the turn. The board read {10-Spades}

. Shaniac checked. His opponent bet 2,200. Shaniac moved all in for almost 3,600. His opponent called. Shaniac had top two with {A-Hearts}

. His opponent called with {Q-Diamonds}

and had a flush draw and gutshot. The river was the {K-Clubs}

. Shaniac's opponent caught a Broadway straight and he was eliminated.

Tags: Shaniac

10-01-2008 18:33 UTC+2

Erica Schoenberg is seated at the same table as Patrik Antonius. David Benyamine wandered over to check up on Erica's progress. The usually stoic Benyamine immediately bolted over to Antonius. He rubbed Antonius' shaved head and then kissed it for good luck.

Tags: Patrik Antonius

10-01-2008 18:26 UTC+2

The Razor Busted

[user24788]

John Phan is out. He got it all in with top pair and a flush draw against an opponent with pocket eights. Phan did not improve his hand, while his opponent rivered a set to send the Razor packing.

Tags: John Phan

10-01-2008 18:22 UTC+2

240 Players Remaining

[user24788]

They are breaking tables to make room for cash games. One table that was broken belonged to Ms. Vicky Coren.

"Don't break it!" she objected since she had a solid read on her table.

Tags: Vicky Coren

10-01-2008 18:15 UTC+2

Hendon Mob Sliced in Half

[user4144]

In what has been a horrid day for the Hendon Mob, two esteemed members have already hit the deck in the shape of Joe Beevers and Ross Boatman.

Whilst the former departed in a simple nines versus kings affair, Boatman's exit was slightly more complex, his {A-Hearts}

finding its way into the middle of an ace high board with two hearts, but coming up short against Big Slick with one card to come. No heart arrived on the river, and the former London's Burning star was cooked.

Tags: Joe Beevers Ross Boatman

10-01-2008 18:13 UTC+2

Greg Howard Doubles Through

[user4144]

New Zealander Greg Howard doubled through just moments ago. He held pocket jacks versus A-K on a {K-Diamonds}

board, all the money flying in on the turn. A clap of the hands confirmed victory as the cards were revealed, and Howard realized his man was drawing dead.

Three knaves now mean Howard has 16,250.

Tags: Greg Howard

10-01-2008 18:11 UTC+2

No Bacon for the Dane

[user4144]

Like Captain Hook, Jesper Hougaard was in dire need of a hand, and it soon arrived in the form of A-K. Sadly for the double bracelet winner, Max Pescatori looked him up with pocket tens which duly held up on an uneventful Q-8-7-4-5 board.

The Italian Pirate is now on 25,000 pieces of eight.

Tags: Jesper Hougaard Max Pescatori

10-01-2008 18:05 UTC+2

Akenhead Falls Out With the Ladies

[user4144]

Down to 2,500 at one point, James Akenhead managed to climb his way up to 8,000, before seeing all his good work go to waste in one fell swoop. Raising it up from the button with pocket queens, Akenhead was smooth-called in the big blind and subsequently saw an A-6-7 flop. The big blind led and Akenhead called. On the queen turn, it was James who fired a bullet, and one which his opponent duly called. On the eight river, however, the big blind pushed all in for around 6,000, and Akenhead made the call. His opponent tabled T-9 for the rivered straight.

Level: 4

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 0

10-01-2008 17:50 UTC+2

In Vino Veritas

[user24788]

"Red or white?"

The Vic is currently handing out free wine to the players. One female staff member is walking around with two bottles of wine while another followed behind with a tray of empty glasses. Several players have taken her up on the offer for free wine.

As photographer Neil Stoddard mentioned, "Hopefully the wine will speed up the action."

Inebriated players tend to get a tad rowdy at the tables, but they'll loosen up and induce action.

And yes, my Latin teacher from my Jesuit high school back in New York City will be happy that I used a Latin phrase as a title post.