EPT Prague Main Event Day 1a | 2009 PokerStars.com EPT Prague

Level: 7

Blinds: 300/600

Ante: 50

12-01-2009 19:41 UTC+2

Please Hold

[user66118]

We've put six levels behind us, and there are two more in sight. But not before we pause for one more 15-minute smoke (or eat-a-thirty-dollar-hamburger) break.

12-01-2009 19:40 UTC+2

We arrived tableside to witness the small blind all in for a hefty sum, and Marc Gork in the under-the-gun position making sad little squealing noises and hitting himself on the head (thankfully protected somewhat by his enormous furry hat). Gork shouted something in German, three times. "English," reminded the dealer. "S**t s**t s**t," translated Katja Thater helpfully.

Eventually, Gork called.

Gork: {10-Spades}

Mr. Small Blind: {A-Hearts}

Board:

With a triumphant gesture involving some emphasis of his own crotch, Gork near-doubled up to somewhere between 70,000 and 80,000 - a more precise count to follow when he's stacked his chips in a tidy manner.

Tags: Marc Gork

12-01-2009 19:39 UTC+2

In a Rut

[user46392]

"What a grind," sighed one of England's finest, Stuart Rutter. He's been hovering around the 19,000 mark for much of the day after laying down the second nut flush on a paired board. His opponent told him afterwards he'd had pocket aces for a full house.

Tags: Stuart Rutter

12-01-2009 19:33 UTC+2

JP Aces

[user66118]

JP Kelly open-raised from the button, and the short-stacked small blind moved all in. The big blind folded, and Kelly quickly called with {A-Spades}

, putting his opponent's {A-Diamonds}

in a bad spot to keep him alive.

A three would find the board, but it wouldn't be enough as the dealer ran out {J-Clubs}

. That's not going to get it done for the short stack, and he's been KO'd.

"Let me have a little of that!" begged the man next to Kelly. "Kings, aces... crazy."

Kelly's reply was a quick one. "You can have kings. And I'll have aces." With a smirk, Kelly stacked up his 71,000 chips.

Tags: JP Kelly

12-01-2009 19:19 UTC+2

Okhotskyi Continues to Top the Chip Counts

[user46392]

Yup, Mr. Oleh Okhotskyi has turned his early double up into a commanding chip lead - he's currently up to 120,000.

Tags: Oleh Okhotskyi

12-01-2009 19:14 UTC+2

Kang Hits the Mat

[user66118]

Sorry for the dramatic foreshadowing, Mr. Kang.

With three people limping into the pot in front of him, Ben Kang moved all in for 3,975 on the button. Antonin Teisseire had started the limping party, and he made the call to put Kang at risk as the rest of the table ducked out of their way.

Showdown
Kang: {A-Hearts}

Teisseire: {7-Spades}

The flop found Kang as it fell {Q-Clubs}

. The

on the turn kept him in the lead, but he was just about to find disaster. The {7-Hearts}

nailed the river, improving Teisseire to the full house and sending Kang off to the exit.

Tags: Antonin Teisseire Ben Kang

12-01-2009 19:13 UTC+2

Cao for Now

[user46392]

We caught up with the action on the turn of the {A-Clubs}

board to witness Rui Cao in the small blind check-calling a bet from the gentleman on the button. Both players checked, and Mr. Button took the pot with {A-?}

. Cao flashed {9-?}

.

No feeling sorry for Mr. Cao, though - he's still on a very impressive 93,000 after that.

Tags: Rui Cao

12-01-2009 19:05 UTC+2

Glo and Ben

[user66118]

During the first break, Glo cornered Team PokerStars Pro Ben Kang for a little chat. We figured we'd get this in now, as the German pro is currently hovering in the danger zone right around 10 big blinds.

Tags: Ben Kang

12-01-2009 19:03 UTC+2

Cowboys All Round

[user46392]

There were four or five limpers when the big blind raised to 1,200. Ramez Haddad called under the gun, and it then folded around to the gentleman in the cutoff, who reraised. Mr. Big Blind moved all in, Haddad unexpectedly also went all in, and Mr. Cutoff thought better of it and folded {A-?}

up.

Action!

But...

Haddad: {K-Spades}

Mr. Big Blind: {K-Clubs}

Board:

They chopped it up, and normal play resumed.

Tags: Ramez Haddad