Main Event Day 1b | 2010 EPT Deauville

01-21-2010 23:27 UTC+2

Almost Bedtime

[user46392]

Just one more 15 minute break and then one more 60 minute level to go.

Time for cigarettes!

01-21-2010 23:25 UTC+2

We told you about Pagano, and he is still all smiles over there behind his chip-leading stack of 200,000.

Another man full of smiles is Freddy Deeb. The perennial tournament performer had a slow start to his day. We made our way through the tight quarters over to his table, and started to eyeball his stack. He caught our eye and let out a big smile. "One hundred," he said proudly. He's got half as many chips as Pagano, but his smile is twice as big.

Tags: Freddy Deeb Luca Pagano

01-21-2010 23:20 UTC+2

Pagano Looking to Break His Own Record

[user46392]

We have a new chip leader!

We estimated Mr. Luca Pagano's stack at 180,000 a little while ago, but he assures us that he's now up to 200,000 - with over a full level left to play, he's approaching the chip-leading stack that Mr. Robert Cezarescu finished up with at the end of play last night.

Mr. Pagano is of course holder of the record for most EPT cashes, and is currently comfortably at the top of the EPT leader board. Could be he's heading for more good things this time around...

Tags: Luca Pagano

01-21-2010 23:14 UTC+2

Three Quacks at Table Fitoussi

[user46392]

Beevers - more deuces than you can shake a stick at

With the board reading {3-Hearts}

, Bruno Fitoussi in the small blind position checked to John Eames in mid position, who bet a mere 1,200. It was enough to make Nicolas Levi on the button fold.

"Wow, is really value betting," said Fitoussi. "Maybe you think your ace is good. I can't pass."

So he called.

Eames turned over {10-Hearts}

, while Fitoussi could only manage {2-Clubs}

.

Tablemate Joe Beevers waved his ID card at Fitoussi - the number was 222. "Ah, triple quack," said Fitoussi sagely. "That's what you need," said Beevers.

Fitoussi's laughter was echoing around the room long after we backed away from the table...

Tags: Bruno Fitoussi Joe Beevers John Eames Nicolas Levi

01-21-2010 23:10 UTC+2

Pride Comes Before a Two-Outer

[user66118]

We walked up to Table 19 to see Jean Noel Thorel and Kamal Sefrioui involved in a big pot. A flop of {7-Diamonds}

was spread out on the table, and Sefrioui was all in. Thorel put him at risk with {10-Spades}

, and the at-risk player could only show up an out-pipped {9-Diamonds}

.

As the dealer got the pot right, Thorel stood up from his chair to gloat to his friends nearby about what a good spot he'd put himself in. We know what happens to people who gloat, don't we, children? That's right, the {9-Hearts}

binked fourth street right there, drawing a loud cry of "Nooooo!" from Thorel as he spun away from the table. The {3-Spades}

filled out the board, and Thorel proceeded to berate first the dealer, then his opponent for several minutes. He finally ended the discussion with "You play so bad," as he splashed his departing chips into the pot one by one. It wasn't a pleasant display of poker etiquette, but it's the sort of thing you become accustomed to in these environments.

Thorel is down to about 30,000 after that divine nine took about half of his stack.

01-21-2010 23:05 UTC+2

Renucci Stays in the Game

[user46392]

Antoine Renucci has doubled up through a now rather glum-looking gentleman hiding his ID card under his iPod. Renucci's {A-?}

hit an ace on the turn and a king on the river to beat Mr. Glum's pocket tens, and he stays in the game.

01-21-2010 22:57 UTC+2

No Mercy for Ms. Mercier

[user140525]

David Atal got his stack in against Isabelle Mercier on a {K-?}

flop. When the hands were tabled, he was drawing to just two outs for his tournament life.

Atal: {J-?}

Mercier:

Turn:

River:

Disgusting. While the rest of the table looked like they wanted to be sick, Mercier kept her face expressionless and silently counted the chips to double up Atal. She was left with 26,000 while Atal rivered his way to 51,000.

Tags: David Atal Isabelle Mercier

01-21-2010 22:47 UTC+2

Runner-Up Praz for Bansi

[user46392]

We caught up with Praz Bansi on the river of a {J-Hearts}

board, facing a 9,500 bet from Peter Traply. Bansi eyed up Traply, who had a mere 5,000 or so behind, before opting for just a call. Bansi turned over {Q-Diamonds}

for two pair - but Traply had him outkicked with {A-Spades}

and took the pot.

Traply - back up to his starting stack on around 31,000
Bansi - down to 35,000 and woeful

Tags: Peter Traply Praz Bansi

01-21-2010 22:46 UTC+2

Kravchenko Plays a Hand!

[user140525]

We walked by his aisle table and were stunned to find Mr. Kravchenko actually playing a hand. And under the gun, no less. He raised to 2,200 and was called by Francois Imaz and Benjamin Juhasz.

Flop: {8-Spades}

Kravchenko checked, Imaz bet 2,000, Juhasz folded, and the stone-faced Russian made the call.

Turn: {J-Clubs}

Kravchenko checked again, then called a 4,000 bet.

River: {K-Spades}

Both players checked to showdown. Imaz tabled {3-Hearts}

, but Kravchenko revealed that his {A-Diamonds}

had rivered the win.

Kravchenko's stack is up to 89,000 (which we guess means he played some earlier pots as well).

Tags: Alexander Kravchenko

01-21-2010 22:45 UTC+2

Fossilized

[user66118]

We were walking along the rail when, lo and behold, we ran smack into Team PokerStars Pro Greg Raymer. The last time we saw him, he was sitting in front of a small stack of about 15,000 chips, so we asked him for the story. He's out, if you couldn't gather that, and here's the skinny (if you will) on what happened.

A player across from Raymer opened the pot with a raise to 1,500. Fossilman three-bet him to 4,300, and his opponent made the smooth call. On the flop of {6-Hearts}