€5,250 Championship Main Event Day 1a | 2008 PokerStars.com EPT - Prague

Level: 1

Blinds: 25/50

Ante: 0

12-09-2008 12:11 UTC+1

Ahoj, Nazdar, Dobrý Den

I won't pretend I haven't Googled this, but... ahoj, nazdar, dobrý den and welcome to this year's EPT Prague. Last year, the Czech capital cemented its place on Europe's number one tour when it attracted a magnificent 550 poker enthusiasts to the lavish Hilton Hotel. With circa €2.5 million Euros in the kitty, it was Arnuad Mattern who snapped up the treasures on offer, his jacks holding up against Gino 'El Diablo' Alacqua's A-9 to give France their third EPT title.

But will France retain the trophy this year round, or will one of the other many nations represented on the Tour Czech-raise their way to EPT gold? Stay with us over the next five days as we find out...

12-09-2008 12:15 UTC+1

Fast and Furious

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Welcome to Prague for a speedy day of poker, there is no full dinner break during the first couple of days meaning that play will begin at 12pm local time (GMT+1) and finish by around 9.30pm.

12-09-2008 12:20 UTC+1

Czeching for Metal

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The Hilton have provided the perfect set up for playing poker. Light, spacious with refreshments on stand-by if one need recover from a bad beat or a roller coaster of a hand. The venue is held in such high esteem, however, that players and media alike need to pass through a metal detector to access the cardroom, as if the constant trauma of the continent's airports weren't enough to keep participants frustrated. What exactly these detectors are aiming to detect, however I am unsure. I know poker can get heated at times, but have you ever seen a player whip out a knife after being shown a bluff? No, me neither.

Nevertheless, there seems to be a plethora of stars at the fet, many of whom have already caught our eye. Within the rabble is the usual smattering of designer hoodies, ipods and spiky blonde hair, meaning the Scandies are here in full force. As expected, there are still many an empty seat, so I'm sure that final number won't be confirmed until very late in the day, giving those cucumber cool latecomers ample time to arrive in true Hellmuth-esque fashion.

Tags: In da hood

12-09-2008 12:30 UTC+1

Here's The Champ!

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Early pot for Arnaud Mattern, last year's champion has started off strongly, raised and reraised and a fourth bet preflop, he fires out 1,750 after it's checked to him on the {K-Clubs}

and manages to elicit a reluctant fold from his near neighbour.

Tags: Arnaud Mattern

12-09-2008 12:35 UTC+1

Former Winners Present

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The Hilton is currently brimming with former EPT winners today, a number of which have already been located. One of the most recent is Michael Martin, who triumphed in London just several weeks ago. The last time we met was over a McFlurry in McDonalds. The following day one of us was a millionaire, and unfortunately for my girlfriend, it wasn't me.

A couple of tables down is defending champion Arnuad Mattern. Looking cooler than the Fonzarelli in a refrigerator, Mattern has suffered a slight hit during this opening level with 7,500 in chips. At first I was braced to blame his supposedly lucky card protector presented in the form of a jar of honey, before I learned that it wasn't a card protector at all, rather a one off appearance to nurture a sore throat. Still, if he wins this event, then the honey will surely be making more appearances than in a Winnie the Pooh film.

12-09-2008 12:37 UTC+1

Dutch Disaster

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Rolf Slotboom looks to be our earliest exit, he had been in a preflop raising war with another player and was a non-believer with {K-?}

when his opponent moved all in on an {A-?}

board. But his timing proved to be off as he was up against {A-?}

which made two pair on the turn and Slotboom couldn't catch a two-outer on the river. He was left with a paltry 50 chips which went in soon after and predictably, couldn't manage a comeback.

The kicker to make things even worse? According to Steve Frezer the tournament director, it was Rolf's own girlfriend who dealt the cards that sent him to the rail.

Tags: Rolf Slotboom

12-09-2008 12:54 UTC+1

Early Action

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It would appear as though my colleague has scooped all the early gems, as my travels have been rather more action free. I did spot a few pots of note, however. The first involved recent WSOPE bracelet winner, Theo Jorgensen, who called a bet on a {5-Spades}

board before calling again, reluctantly so, to a bet of 3,550 on the {5-Clubs}

river. Jorgensen spent little time folding as he was shown {5-Diamonds}

for a rivered full house.

Meanwhile, Markus Golser and poker cowboy Alfonso Amendola had somehow accumulated a big pot preflop, but on the {4-Clubs}

flop, it was Amendola who took it down with a bet of 5,650. One table down, 2006 EPT Copenhagen winner Mads Andersen led for 525 on a {5-Clubs}

flop, before checking down a {2-Spades}

turn and

river with {Q-Spades}

to snap up a small, but useful pot.

12-09-2008 13:00 UTC+1

Eidsvig Agony

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Arnaud Mattern raises it up preflop and is called by former London EPT winner Joseph Mouawad from the button and Trond Eidsvig in the small blind. The flop comes {7-Diamonds}

and Mattern bets 625 after a check from the Norwegian. Mouawad makes the call and Eidsvig check-raises to 1,650, Mattern gets out of the way and Mouawad makes a second call.

On the {7-Hearts}

turn, Eidsvig leads for 2,000 and Mouawad quickly announces that he is all in. Eidsvig lets out a yelp of frustration, but folds speedily. After the hand he confesses he had Queens and begins to play with his chips, shaking his head.

Tags: Tronde Eidsvig

Level: 2

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0