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

04-13-2008 18:29 UTC+2

Hachem Can't Be Bluffed

[user67765]

Just before the break, and with a board reading {7-Spades}

2005 WSOP Champion Joe Hachem was faced with a 5,000 chip decision as his opponent put him to the test. The pot was already in excess of 8,000 chips and the wrong decision would leave Hachem in trouble. In the end he looked down at his pocket jacks and made the call.

His opponent flipped over A-K and Hachem thumped the table in delight as his jacks were good to jump him into a comfortable position with over 25,000 chips.

Tags: Joe Hachem

04-13-2008 18:29 UTC+2

Negreanu In Control

[user67765]

In a raised pot Chad Brown, Daniel Negreanu and David Steicke all took a flop of {9-Clubs}

. The action checked around and they saw a free turn card of a repeat {6-Diamonds}

. Steicke led out with a feeler bet of 600. Brown folded and Negreanu tried to take control of the pot with a raise to 1,800 total. Steicke thought for a moment and made the call.

The river brought the {K-Hearts}

which appeared to be a good card for Steicke as he led at the pot once again, this time with a bet of 1,700. Negreanu snap-called and Steicke flipped {K-Diamonds}

for a rivered top pair. However Negreanu tabled {8-Hearts}

for trips which was good to take down the sizable pot.

Negreanu is now back to around 17,000 chips.

Tags: Daniel Negreanu

04-13-2008 18:26 UTC+2

Max Pescatori Eliminated

[user25067]

Antonio Esfandiari made a standard opening raise, a middle position player called, Dario Alioto called, Max Pescatori moved all in for 3,000, Esfandiari called, and both the MP player and Alioto folded.

Pescatori {A-Clubs}

Esfandiari {A-Diamonds}

The board ran out {K-Hearts}

and Pescatori wished his tablemates good luck as he hit the rail. After the hand, Esfandiari was up to 25,500 in chips.

Tags: Antonio Esfandiari Dario Alioto Max Pescatori

04-13-2008 17:56 UTC+2

Timex Stumbles

[user67765]

The pre-flop action saw three players, including Mike "Timex" McDonald commit 1,100 into the middle to see a flop of {A-Hearts}

.

McDonald in the big blind was the first to speak, firing out a bet of 2,100 which found one fold and one call. The turn brought the {8-Clubs}

and both players checked. The river was the {J-Clubs}

and McDonald checked over to his opponent who fired a healthy bet of 6,100. McDonald didn't take long to cut out his chips and make the call.

His opponent flipped {J-Diamonds}

for a rivered full house, which was too good for McDonald who after being the early chip leader today is now down to around 16,000 chips.

Tags: Mike "Timex" McDonald

04-13-2008 17:47 UTC+2

Tables of Death = Even More Deathly

[user25067]

As if the Dario Alioto-Max Pescatori duo wasn't intimidating enough, Gus Hansen and Antonio Esfandiari have recently been moved to their table. Also getting scarier by the minute is the Chad Brown/Daniel Negreanu table, which just added William Thorson to its lineup.

Tags: Antonio Esfandiari Chad Brown Daniel Negreanu Dario Alioto Gus Hansen Max Pescatori William Thorson

04-13-2008 17:46 UTC+2

423 Players Remaining

[user38449]

Unfortunately, we're still without the official player list for Day 1b, but we can tell you that there are 423 players left in today's field, midway through the third level of play.

04-13-2008 17:27 UTC+2

Boris Becker Faults

[user67765]

PokerStars.com representative Boris Becker and his opponent saw a heads-up flop of {5-Diamonds}

. Becker was first to act, firing out a pot sized bet of 1,000 to which his opponent called in position.

The turn brought a blank in the {2-Diamonds}

and Becker checked the action over to his opponent who made a bet of 1,500. Becker thought for a moment before calling.

The river landed the {J-Spades}

and Becker again checked, allowing his opponent to make a small bet of 2,000. Becker counted out his chips as the media started to swarm around his table, before eventually making a crying call. His opponent flipped over {K-Clubs}

for trips as Becker cringed and simply mucked his hand.

Becker hasn't been able to serve too many aces today, and is now left with around 4,000 in chips.

Tags: Boris Becker