2010 EPT Berlin Main Event Day 1a | 2010 PokerStars.net EPT Berlin

03-02-2010 19:34 UTC+2

God Helps Those Who Helppi Themselves

[user46392]

Also doing well was Juha Helppi - he was up to over 70,000 until he got involved in a raising war from the button with the gentleman in the hijack. Helppi had invested 12,000 in the hand before Mr. Hijack went all in for perhaps another 40,00, driving Helppi into the tank. When he emerged he folded and dipped to a still thoroughly above-average 60,000.

Tags: Juha Helppi

03-02-2010 19:26 UTC+2

Who's Doing Well?

[user46392]

Mr. Jeff Sarwer, of PokerNews.com video fame, has somehow leapt from just 11,000 to a commanding 70,000 while no-one was looking.

But Mr. Sarwer's achievements are as nothing to those of Mr. Michael Huber. On a whopping 120,000 right now, he is our current chip leader as we creep towards the dinner break.

03-02-2010 19:18 UTC+2

Vlad Riding the River

[user140525]

Vicky Coren flopped a pair of kings, but Vlad Zguba rivered a set of nines to scoop a nice pot. The next hand, he was heads up to the flop with Arnaud Mattern.

Flop: {J-Hearts}

- Zguba checked to Mattern, who checked behind.

Turn: {Q-Spades}

- Zguba bet 1,000, and Mattern bumped it up to 3,250. After a minute, Zguba called.

River: {J-Spades}

- Vlad checked, and Mattern didn't fall for it. Arnaud showed {A-Diamonds}

, but Zguba had once again gotten there on the river with {A-Spades}

. "Nice call," said Arnaud, shaking his head.

03-02-2010 19:16 UTC+2

A Double Up for Fitzgerald

donpeters

We walked over to Alex Fitzgerald's table and saw two sets of cards on their backs. Fitzgerald held the {10-Clubs}

and his opponent the {A-Clubs}

. The board was laid out in the middle as {Q-Clubs}

as were all 19,000 of Fitzgerald's chips. Fitzgerald had made a full house and earned a double up to 44,000.

Tags: Alex Fitzgerald

03-02-2010 19:12 UTC+2

Puumalainen Doubles

donpeters

An opponent bet 12,000 on the flop of {K-Diamonds}

into Mika Puumalainen. With 28,450 left, Puumalainen moved all in. His opponent made the call.

Puumalainen: {10-Clubs}

Opponent:

The turn was the {6-Diamonds}

and the river the {3-Diamonds}

to give Puumalainen a backdoor flush and he now has over 60,000 chips.

Tags: Mika Puumalainen

03-02-2010 19:10 UTC+2

Misstep for McEvoy

[user140525]

On a

flop, Tom McEvoy announced all in. Sandra Ambroz couldn't get her chips into the pot fast enough. She called all in with her last 10,500, flipping up {A-Clubs}

. McEvoy's {8-Diamonds}

was way behind and didn't get any help from the {7-Hearts}

turn or the {J-Diamonds}

river. After doubling Anbroz, he's down to 17,400.

Tags: Sandra Ambroz Tom McEvoy

03-02-2010 19:04 UTC+2

Alexia Deported

[user140525]

Alexia Portal raised to 1,000 under the gun, and a player in middle position reraised to 2,300. Action folded back to Portal, who thought for a minute before flat calling. The flop fell {8-Spades}

. Portal moved all in for 14,700, and her opponent snap called. Not good news for Portal. Her {Q-Clubs}

had run into {A-Spades}

. The turn and river bricked off, and Portal bolted toward the exit.

Tags: Alexia Portal

Level: 6

Blinds: 200/400

Ante: 50

03-02-2010 18:57 UTC+2

Mattern Climbing

[user46392]

By the time we arrived tableside the board read {4-Diamonds}

, there was already over 25,000 in the pot, and Arnaud Mattern on the button was betting 14,800. His opponent under the gun looked horrified. He picked up the chips for the call and dangled them over the felt, checking for a reaction, but Mattern was not paying attention, instead surveying the room with a nonchalance that could have indicated anything. Eventually Mr. Under The Gun folded {J-Clubs}

face up.

Mattern is up to around 75,000 after that.

Tags: Arnaud Mattern

03-02-2010 18:50 UTC+2

An Amuzing Turn of Events

[user46392]

We caught up with the action on the {4-Clubs}

flop; the action involved the gentleman in the small blind checking, Martin Vallo under the gun betting 2,100, and both Pawel Muza in the hijack and Mr. Small Blind calling to see a turn.

The turn was the {9-Clubs}

and it checked around to Muza, who bet 5,125. Undeterred, both his opponents called, and they moved on to the traditional river.

The river came down the {K-Spades}

and once again it checked to Muza. This time he tanked up for a long time - and when he came out of the tank he bet 14,475, leaving himself just 5,200 behind. Mr. Small Blind made the call, and after Vallo had passed with a sigh (he said afterwards he'd had {A-?}

), Muza turned over {9-Hearts}

for a turned set. Mr. Small Blind mucked, and the young Polish qualifier is up to a shade over 60,000.