Main Event Day 1b | 2010 EPT Deauville

Level: 4

Blinds: 150/300

Ante: 0

01-21-2010 16:51 UTC+2

Koch Crows His Last

A delighted Julien Brecard was good enough to share with us the source of his joy.

The former poker press member turned PokerStars Sponsored Player told us that Sijbrand Maal opened for 600 and he just flat-called. There were two further calls, before Marcel Koch reraised to 3,500. Maal passed, but Brecard made it 13,000 to go. Everyone else passed, Koch pushed for perhaps 16,000 with {A-Diamonds}

, and Brecard was only too happy to call with his {A-?}

. "But I didn't have the ace of diamonds," Brecard explained, "Because then it would have been kind of a fix." Interesting.

Anyway, Koch flopped a king, but a bunch of bricks later and Koch was busto, while the People's Choice Award winner from last night's French Poker Awards ceremony was up to a commanding 65,000.

Tags: Julien Brecard

01-21-2010 16:50 UTC+2

Time for a Deeble Up

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Laurent Lagreve didn't know what he was getting into when he opened to 650 from middle position. When action folded to Freddy Deeb in the big blind, he bumped it up to 2,700, and Lagreve made the call.

Flop: {Q-Hearts}

Deeb bet out one grey 5,000 chip. Instantly, Lagreve tossed three 5,000 chips into the middle. Freddy counted his stack and then moved all in for only a a few thousand more. Grumbling about it, Lagreve had no choice but to call.

Deeb: {K-Spades}

Lagreve:

The

on the turn and {7-Clubs}

on the river didn't change anything, and Lagreve quietly tapped the table. After his double up, Deeb has 41,000.

Tags: Freddy Deeb Laurent Lagreve

01-21-2010 16:48 UTC+2

Peter Arrived Through the... (wait for it)... East Gate

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Peter Eastgate was on our initial list of registrants this morning, but he was nowhere to be found on our Danish scavenger hunt. Returning from the first break, though, Mr. Eastgate has magically appeared at table in the center of the room, sharing the felt with Vitaly Lunkin. Together, they have earned nearly $15 million in tournament poker, a fact that should have the other seven players at their table cowering in fear.

As he was taking his seat, Eastgate was propositioned by Dario Minieri for a last-longer bet. The World Champ is usually good for a few side bets, but he politely declined this time around.

01-21-2010 16:41 UTC+2

Tables Of Doom

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Table Three is a terrifying place to be, featuring as it does Messrs. Dario Minieri, Pascal Perrault and Marc Naalden, as well as Ms. Barbara Martinez.

Over on Table Eight things are hotting up as well, as Peter Eastgate has finally arrived to take his seat a couple places over from Vitaly Lunkin...

01-21-2010 16:38 UTC+2

Kjerses!

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There was a raise to 500, but Stephan Kjerstad made it 1,000 from the button. The gentleman in the nine seat, sadly absent from our player list, called in the small blind. Mr. Original Raiser passed, and they went heads up to a flop.

They checked down the {4-Diamonds}

flop and

turn, and Mr. Small Blind bet out 750 on the {5-Clubs}

river. Kjerstad passed, but no feeling sorry for him! He's still doing just fine on 40,000.

By the by, young Jeremy Amsellem, also at that table, is doing well on 50,000 or so.

Tags: Jeremy Amsellem Stephan Kjerstad

01-21-2010 16:06 UTC+2

Bracelet-Bedecked Field

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Everywhere you turn at the Casino Barrière de Deauville, you're bound to run into a World Series bracelet winner. Today's field includes three 2009 winners. Vitaly Lunkin picked up $1.89 million for conquering the 40th Anniversary $40k tournament. Marc Naalden dominated this year's Limit Hold'em events, winning one, finishing second in another, and cashing in a third. Peter Traply also picked up a bracelet this summer.

Also in today's field are 2008 winners Rob Hollink, Dario Minieri, and Davidi Kitai. Main Event winner Peter Eastgate is registered for the tournament but has yet to make an appearance.

Other WSOP bracelet owners currently gracing the Deauville felt include Alexander Kravchenko, Praz Bansi, Ivo Donev, Freddy Deeb, and 2004 Main Event winner Greg Raymer.

01-21-2010 16:06 UTC+2

/Break

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The 15-minute breaks will probably turn into 20 minutes once again today, since Security refuses to let the players back into the room until the break clock runs fully down to zero. Either way, they're all finally back in here, and play has resumed.

Level: 3

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 0

01-21-2010 15:43 UTC+2