PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Grand Final Day 1a | 2008 PokerStars.com EPT Grand Final - Monte Carlo

04-12-2008 19:57 UTC+2

"KaiBuxxe" Meets a Supernova Elite

Niki "KaiBuxxe" [Removed:552], a Full Tilt pro who made a name for himself beating some of the biggest cash games on the net, has been moved to a table with Kevin "Comma_D" Arba, a PokerStars sit'n'go pro with Supernova Elite status.

Sparks could fly as these two cyber heavyweights size each other up. At the moment, [Removed:552] has approximately 11,000 in chips, while Arba has just under 12,000.

Tags: Niki Jedlicka

04-12-2008 19:40 UTC+2

Scoreboard Update

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Barry Greenstein - 11,575
Bill Edler - 13,400
Eli Elezra - 8,475
Julian Powell - 25,400
Humberto Brenes - 17,500

04-12-2008 19:16 UTC+2

Dinner Break, Part 2

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The first half of the field has just resumed play while the other half is off to the buffet.

04-12-2008 18:57 UTC+2

Friends Become Foes

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Annette "Annette_15" Obrestad and Anna Wroblewski, friends and former partners in a recent Aussie Millions teams event, are now competitive enemies, as they've been placed together at the same tournament table.

Nearby, good friends Roland de Wolfe and Thomas Wahlroos are sitting side-by-side at the same table, chatting it up in between hands.

Tags: Anna Wroblewski

04-12-2008 18:55 UTC+2

Katja Thater Eliminated

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With the board reading {K-Hearts}

, Katja Thater moved all in for her remaining 6,700 on the turn. After a lengthy think, her opponent called and turned up {K-Diamonds}

. Thater winced as she flipped over her {A-Spades}

. The river was the {4-Hearts}

and Thater graciously shook her opponent's hand as she headed to the rail.

Tags: Katja Thater

04-12-2008 18:41 UTC+2

Day 1A Official Count= 392

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It's official-- 392 players started Day 1A of the Poker Stars EPT Grand Final. Of those 392, 321 currently remain.

04-12-2008 18:33 UTC+2

Dinner Break, Part 1

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Half the field is now on a one-hour dinner break, while the second half will continue to play one-half of a level before their chance to grab one of the hotel's 20 euro cheeseburgers (That's about $27 US!)

Level: 4

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 0

04-12-2008 18:21 UTC+2

Players Take a 15-Minute Break

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04-12-2008 18:11 UTC+2

Noah's Nemesis

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Noah Boeken built a nice stack early today, but now seems to have found a nemesis on his table that he is struggling to overcome. The two have been exchanging plenty of chips and verbal warfare throughout the afternoon.

In a recent hand both players toyed with each other by refusing to view the flop or turn, with both streets checked in the dark by both players.

The river arrived to produce a board of {4-Diamonds}

and Boeken's opponent announced "pot" in full knowledge that a pot bet is not a valid bet amount in No Limit Holdem. He eventually committed 4,200 into the pot and Boeken grimaced before making the call. His opponent flipped over a set of nines which was too good for Boeken as he flashed a queen before mucking his hand. Boeken is now down to around 17,000 in chips.

Tags: Noah Boeken