2009 PokerStars.net EPT Kyiv

€5,000 EPT Kyiv Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info

2009 PokerStars.net EPT Kyiv

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
49
Prize
€330,000
Event Info
Buy-in
€4,700
Prize Pool
€1,391,200
Entries
296
Level Info
Level
28
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
5,000

€5,000 EPT Kyiv Main Event

Day 1b Completed

Day 1b Concludes

Alexander Rykov was among the Day 1b chip leaders as play concluded
Alexander Rykov was among the Day 1b chip leaders as play concluded
"We need bags, please," called a dealer to tournament staff, anticipating the last stage of today's activities, the bagging of chips.

"One big body bag, please!" added one of the players with a big grin.

It was indeed an exhausting day. Following yesterday's schedule, the 167 players who came out for Day 1b of the 2009 EPT Kyiv Main Event found themselves playing seven one-hour levels with no dinner break. One unscheduled detour today was a 20-minute delay in the middle of the fourth level thanks to a power outage at the Kyiv Sport Palace. Soon power was restored, however, and another successful day of poker is in the books.

Added to yesterday's total, today's turnout meant a final tally of 296 entrants for this first-ever EPT event in Kyiv, Ukraine -- representing a total of 33 different countries!

Today's field included such notables as Shaun Deeb, Cristian Dragomir, Lika Gerasimova, Andrew Feldman, Ivan Demidov, Faraz Jaka, Vitaly Lunkin, Katja Thater, John Kabbaj, Pier Paolo Fabretti, Josh Field, Dario Minieri, and a late-arriving Gus Hansen. Of that group the latter five -- Kabbaj, Fabrietti, Field, Minieri, and Hansen -- failed to advance to Thursday's Day 2. In all 57 players hit the rail at some point today, meaning we'll have a total of 203 returning to play together tomorrow.

As play concluded, Jason Kudron, Bernard Boutboul, Dragan Galic, Anatoly Zharnitsky, Alexander Rykov, and Jonas Kronwitter all sported 100,000-plus chip stacks. But it was the Russian Viktor Ivanov who pushed out ahead of them all, ending the day with a whopping 153,825 -- putting him just ahead of Day 1a's leader, Mihaylo Demidenko of Ukraine.

Thanks for following our coverage today, and do join us here at noon Ukraine time (GMT+2) when cards go back in the air.

A Few for Faraz

Faraz Jaka
Faraz Jaka
Faraz Jaka is getting active here as we careen toward the end of play for the day. Just now he raised to 1,500 from early position, claiming the blinds and antes. On the next hand, Jaka again opened with a raise to 1,500 from under the gun, and got one caller from the player on the button.

The flop came {Q-Hearts}{4-Clubs}{3-Hearts}. Jaka continued with a bet of 2,000, and his opponent called. Both then checked the {5-Clubs} turn.

The river brought the {2-Diamonds} and a bet of 3,500 from Jaka, forcing a fold. Jaka is sitting at about 45,000 at the moment.

Tags: Faraz Jaka

After Arriving Late, Hansen Heads Home Early

Gus Hansen
Gus Hansen
Well, those moves Gus Hansen was planning didn't work out so well.

A rapid sequence of unfortunate events led to his suddenly finding himself in short-stack territory, needing to make a move quickly. Down to less than 5,000, the table folded to Hansen who shoved from the button with {J-Spades}{7-Hearts}. But the small blind was waiting with {A-Spades}{A-Hearts}. Hansen could only shake his head and smile.

The flop came {7-Diamonds}{2-Clubs}{K-Diamonds}. "There's a seven," said Hansen. But the turn was the {Q-Spades} and the river the {3-Diamonds}, and Hansen's EPT journey has abruptly ended.

Tags: Gus Hansen

Dragomir's Overpair

A player in the cutoff seat opened with a raise to 2,500, and both Christian Dragomir on the button and the big blind quickly called.

Three handed then, the flop rolled out {2-Diamonds} {7-Hearts} {4-Diamonds}. The big blind showed signs of betting before he tapped the felt, and the raiser continued out with another 6,000 chips. Dragomir called just as quickly as before, but the big blind elected to check-raise to 13,000. That instantly folded the raiser, and it put a puzzled and frustrated look on the face of Dragomir. He picked up a handful of chips and splashed them down into a messy pile near his stack, clearly not happy with the decision facing him. After just a moment, he flashed his {8-Clubs} {8-Spades} with wide eyes and a big shake of the head, sending his cards back to the dealer and ending the hand.

The initial raiser was right next to Dragomir, and he said something about, "ace-king."

"I know he has ace-king," said Dragomir, indignant. "He has ace-king, but there's nothing I can do. Maybe we can catch him... let's work together!" Dragomir's half-serious suggestion drew a chuckle from the table and even a wry smirk from the dealer.

On to the next hand.

Kostritsyn in Trouble

Things have sure turned sour for Alexander Kostritsyn. He was up close to 70,000 to start that last level, and he'll finish it with just about 20% of that once-proud stack.

Nothing specifically stands out about his slide, it's just sort of been one thing after another. Two hands ago, Kostritsyn paid off a bet of 8,000 on the river which turned out to be a value bet as his opponent showed a winning set of eights. And in the last pot, he and another player built a pot of more than 20,000 before Kostritsyn had to lay his hand down to a bet that had him covered.

He's all the way back to about 16,000 now.

Tags: Alexander Kostritsyn

Level: 7

Blinds: 300/600

Ante: 50

The Hansen Effect

"This was the best table until you came!"

So said Cristian Dragomir just now across the table to Gus Hansen. It appeared initially Dragomir was referring to the fact that now that Hansen was at the table, a huge crowd has remained nearby.

But as Dragomir continued, it was clear he was referring to another effect caused by Hansen's presence. "Now everyone is taking your lead," he continued. "Playing three-handed, every hand. Every hand!"

Hansen responded with a silent grin, moving his chips back and forth in front of him. And preparing for more moves to come.

Tags: Cristian DragomirGus Hansen

Vitaly Revitalized

Vitaly Lunkin
Vitaly Lunkin
Looking down at {A-Spades} {5-Diamonds} and his shrinking stack, Vitaly Lunkin moved all in and was called by one opponent further down the line. The board would end up showing {5-Clubs} {5-Hearts} {2-Diamonds} {K-Clubs} {7-Diamonds}, and the trip fives were good enough to earn the at-risk Lunkin a crucial double up. He has bounced back, moving his stack back up over 35,000 after having struggled with less than half that most of the last couple of levels.

Still, it's not all smooth flying for the Russian. Just now Lunkin was raising to 1,125 before the flop from middle position, only to have Andrea Benelli reraise to 4,175 from the cutoff.

It folded back to Lunkin, who asked Benelli how much he had left. "About 20,000," said Benelli. Lunkin rechecked his cards, then decided discretion was the best course and tossed them dealerward.

Lunkin remains right around 35,000 at the moment, while Benelli has 22,500.

Tags: Andrea BenelliVitaly Lunkin