€5,000 EPT Kyiv Main Event Day 1b | 2009 PokerStars.net EPT Kyiv

08-19-2009 13:11 UTC+3

Lunkin Loses a Few

Shamus

We came on this one on the turn, when Vitaly Lunkin was facing a tough decision. There was approximately 5,000 already in the middle, and the board showed {10-Diamonds}

. Lunkin's opponent had pushed out a bet of 2,500 from middle position. Lunkin, in the cutoff, thought for a minute before finally shrugging and letting his hand go.

The two-time WSOP bracelet winner has slipped to 25,500 here in the early going.

Tags: Vitaly Lunkin

08-19-2009 13:00 UTC+3

Opening Moves

Shamus

Not surprisingly, Dario Minieri is active here in the early going. He just now opened from middle position for 300 and got two callers, players sitting in the cutoff and small blind. The flop came {10-Clubs}

, and a bet of 500 from the small blind pushed Minieri out.

On the next hand, Minieri again raised to 300 and only the cutoff called. The flop came {5-Clubs}

, Minieri continued with a bet of 450, and his opponent folded.

A few hands later -- including a couple in which Minieri took small pots -- he was raising to 300 again, this time from the cutoff, and claimed the blinds. Minieri has chipped up to 33,500.

Tags: Dario Minieri

08-19-2009 12:51 UTC+3

Deeb Steams

[user66118]

Just one or two hands into his day, Shaun Deeb shot out of his chair and came over to your two bloggers standing on the rail.

"I'm so tilted right now. Seriously," he continued, "I'm sitting with five guys who I've played the hundred rebuy with recently. This is insane."

We couldn't help but chuckle at the fact that Deeb is already steaming before he's even played a hand. He just shook his head and looked up at the ceiling. "Ugh. The two donkeys are gonna go broke early, and we're all going to have like 40,000 at the end of the day. Jeez."

We take his words with a grain of salt though; if anyone knows how to build a big stack early, it's Shaun Deeb.

Tags: Shaun Deeb

08-19-2009 12:46 UTC+3

More Familiar Smiles

[user66118]

Things get a little more interesting on the second scan of the room. We have a final tablist from each of the last two EPT events of season five; Dragan Galic (5th place EPT San Remo) and Mikhail Tulchinskiy (3rd place EPT Grand Final, Monte Carlo) will both be trying to make runs to another final table with the hopes of going all the way this time.

Adding to the international flair, Team PokerStars Pros Pier Paolo Fabretti (Italy) and Leo Fernandez (Argentina) are also in the mix. In addition, we've spotted 2008 Partouche Poker Tour champ Alain Roy in the middle of the room adjacent to Tristan Clemencon. 2009 WSOP bracelet winner Vitaly Lunkin has made the trip over from Russia, as has Team PokerStars pro Ivan Demidov with girlfriend Lika Gerasimova.

The pros are out in full force here in Kyiv.

08-19-2009 12:29 UTC+3

Faces in the Crowd

Shamus

Players continue to arrive as Level 1 begins. A quick initial pass reveals a few familiar faces among those here for the first hands dealt, including John Kabbaj, Nicolas Levi, Dario Minieri, Katja Thater, and Shaun Deeb.

08-19-2009 12:22 UTC+3

Let's Get it On!

[user66118]

Following some brief remarks from Tournament Director Thomas Kremser, the dealers were given the, "Shuffle up and deal!" and the cards are in the air!

Level: 1

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

08-19-2009 12:04 UTC+3

Stay Tuned

Shamus

It appears as though we are running a little behind schedule today as shuttles carrying poker players to the Kyiv Sport Palace are still arriving. Probably looking at another 15-20 minutes at least before cards go in the air.

08-19-2009 11:44 UTC+3

Day 1b is Here

[user66118]

Good morning from Kyiv, Ukraine, and welcome back for Day 1b of the PokerStars.net EPT Kyiv, the season opener for this installment of Europe's largest poker tour.

This sixth season kicked off just about 24 hours ago as the first flight of 129 players took their seats here in the Kyiv Sports Palace. At the end of seven levels, 93 of them bagged up their checks for a two-day soak in the cage. They'll have today off to see the sights of Kyiv before returning for the combined Day 2 on Thursday.

Today, then, the event will dawn with a new batch of runners, and the staff is optimistic for a stronger turnout than yesterday. The magic number seems to be 171; if we can manage that, we'll have assembled a respectably healthy field of 300 total entrants. Players are just now beginning to file into their seats as the dealers check the decks and stack out the chips.

With no opening ceremonies to get through, we expect to be underway a bit closer to the scheduled starting time today. Cards will be in the air just after noon local time, so go stretch your legs and get ready for Day 1b!