€5,300 EPT San Remo Main Event Day 1a | 2009 PokerStars.com EPT San Remo

04-18-2009 21:20 UTC+3

These Aren't the Cards You're Looking For

[user75032]

Small pots are becoming more the norm now that the field has thinned. Some players have amassed massive stacks in that way. We haven't called Sam Chartier's name at all this afternoon, but he's managed to chip all the way up to 42,000. He tried raising the button to 950 in a recent hand, but had to fold with a wry smile after the small blind reraised all in for 5,325.

Just two tables over, Michael "Timex" McDonald was the player in the big blind facing a raise of 850. He called, then check-folded to a bet of 1,400 when the dealer produced a flop of {6-Clubs}

.

Tags: Michael McDonald Sam Chartier

04-18-2009 21:07 UTC+3

Dinner Break: Redux

[user66118]

The first group of players have just returned from the buffet with full bellies, and they are back to playing cards. The second group is now filing toward the door for their own nourishment, while those unlucky enough to draw the high table numbers look on jealously.

All in good time, group three.

Level: 6

Blinds: 150/300

Ante: 25

04-18-2009 20:57 UTC+3

One Teams PokerStar Pro Doubles Up; One Goes Home

[user75032]

It was a similar tale with different endings for Alexander Kravchenko and Chad Brown. Both Team PokerStars Pros found themselves getting short, with 6,475 chips and 2,000 chips respectively. Action folded to both in late position, and both raised. In Kravchenko's case, he made a standard open for 850 and then called after his opponent put him all in from the big blind. Brown simply open-raised all in.

"You had to do it on my blind, didn't you?" the big blind asked.

"It's just when the cards come," replied Brown. His opponent decided he needed chips almost as badly as Brown, and he made the call.

At Kravchenko's table, his {j-Diamonds}

was ahead of the big blind's {A-Hearts}

and stayed that way on a board of {3-Diamonds}

. The ending was not so happy for Brown; his {Q-Clubs}

was up against the big blind's {A-Hearts}

and in serious trouble after an ace flopped, {5-Clubs}

. The

on the turn made things interesting, but Brown departed with a river blank, the {3-Hearts}

.

Tags: Alexander Kravchenko Chad Brown

04-18-2009 20:32 UTC+3

D'Angelo Doubles

[user75032]

We've spent the better part of the afternoon looking for players that were on the official player list that we just haven't seen. We finally found one -- Ryan D'Angelo. Just as we spotted D'Angelo, he obliged us by playing a pot for all of his chips.

A player in early position raised to 1,200 and was called by one middle-position player. D'Angelo was sitting in the big blind and put in a large raise of his own, to 3,800. The early-position player asked for a count on D'Angelo's stack (about 15,000 total) then raised to 20,000 straight. That raise folded the middle-position player but elicited a quick call from D'Angelo, who turned over {K-Clubs}

. D'Angelo's opponent groaned before showing down {A-Clubs}

. There was no ace anywhere to be found on a board of {2-Hearts}

. D'Angelo is now among the top of the chip stacks with roughly 30,000.

Tags: Ryan DAngelo

04-18-2009 20:28 UTC+3

Juha! Sixes Are Good

[user46392]

A double up also for Juha Lauttamus, who found his pocket sixes good against his opponent's {K-?}

when the board came down {4-?}

.

Tags: Juha Helppi

04-18-2009 20:25 UTC+3

Spindler Pot

[user46392]

The card room does seem quieter with a third of the players gone to dinner, but the action hasn't slowed down any.

Most recently at Table Hedlund, a double up for Benjamin Spindler. He got it in preflop with {K-Diamonds}

against an opponent's {A-Clubs}

and Peter Hedlund was loudly praying for a double-up for the short stack. It seems the poker gods were listening, as the board came down {9-Clubs}

. "How many full houses do you have there," wondered Hedlund, who appears to have no filter between his mind and his mouth. Any full house would be good enough, though, and Spindler stays in the game.

04-18-2009 20:23 UTC+3

Welcome to San Remo

[user66118]

Early in the day, PokerNews' Gloria Balding set the stage and took a quick look around the tournament room:

Head over to PokeNews TV for more videos from San Remo and other PokerStars.com events around the world.

04-18-2009 20:20 UTC+3

15 Minute Break Means 15 Minute Break

[user46392]

Incidentally, the tournament directors are not messing about here today. Each break lasts exactly 15 minutes, regardless of whether there are any players at the tables when "Shuffle up and deal" is announced.

"S**t! Three minutes in already?" wailed Peter Hedlund as he dashed back to his seat (although he immediately jumped back out of it and went over to chat to someone on the other side of the table). Indeed I saw more athleticism as players legged it back to their tables at the start of level five than I believe I have ever witnessed before at an EPT. Good to know players are getting some exercise.

04-18-2009 20:17 UTC+3

Mergioti at It Again

[user46392]

Shoving-happy Italian Maurilio Mergioti pushed all in for around 18,000 to a 750 raise and a 2,450 raise from some aggressive gentlemen on his table. Both players backed down and folded, and Mergioti rewarded them by flashing {K-Hearts}

.