Main Event Day 1a | 2010 PokerStars.it EPT San Remo

Level: 2

Blinds: 75/150

Ante: 0

04-15-2010 13:25 UTC+2

Moar!

[user66118]

With the size of the tournament room, it's likely we'll be discovering people for the first time all day long. Here are a few more notables we've spotted:

EPT Snowfest winner Allan Bække
Sam Chartier
Mike "Timex" McDonald taking a break from his poker sabbatical already
Clayton Mozdzen
Jesper Hougaard, as talkative and smiley as ever
EPT Warsaw third-placer Oleksandr Vaserfirer

04-15-2010 13:33 UTC+2

Thorsson Gets More-sson

[user46392]

Kristoffer Thorsson is off to a pretty decent start after seeing a {J-Diamonds}

flop. His opponent in the hijack checked, and Thorsson bet 1,400 from the button. A call, and a turn.

The turn was the {9-Diamonds}

and Mr. Hijack checked again. Thorsson now bet 3,000. "How much?" asked his opponent inexplicably. He called.

The river came down the {A-Spades}

and once again Mr. Hijack checked. Thorsson now bet 6,500, and this time his opponent passed.

Thorsson is up to a thoroughly respectable 35,000.

Tags: Kristoffer Thorsson

04-15-2010 13:34 UTC+2

Enter the Italians

[user66118]

Misters Pagano (Luca) and Minieri (Dario) have just both made their late entrances to the tournament, and about a minute apart from each other. Both are decked out in bright blue jumpers, and they're both sitting in Seat 3 at adjacent tables in the far corner of the room.

04-15-2010 13:37 UTC+2

Italy Expects

[user76023]

A lot of the home hopes will rest on Dario Minieri and Luca Pagano as the stalwarts of Italian Poker. The former has managed a good start flopping a house with {9-?}

on a

and getting paid on the river.

04-15-2010 13:37 UTC+2

By the By...

[user46392]

We at PokerNews would like to commend the EPT organizers on their new choice of level-up music - the intro from Eye of the Tiger.

Yes, say we. Yes.

04-15-2010 13:50 UTC+2

Fall from Grace

[user46392]

Strolling by Andrew Chen's table, something - or someone - was amiss. Richard Grace, cheerful but apparently luckless New Zealander, was not in his seat. Chen filled us in on his unfortunate demise.

It seems that Luke Fields raised under the gun and got two callers behind; Grace called too from the big blind.

They saw a {4-?}

flop with a flush draw on it and Grace bet out. Perhaps it says something about Mr. Grace's table image that everyone called. Either way, come the offsuit {J-?}

on the turn Grace bet out again and this time Fields raised. Everyone else folded, Grace got it in and Fields called.

Grace: {4-?}

for a set
Fields: {A-?}

for a straight

River: did not make Grace a full house, but instead sent him to the rail.

Luke Fields is having a lovely day so far, on around 60,000.

Tags: Richard Grace

04-15-2010 13:54 UTC+2

Moar! Moar!

[user66118]

You know the field is packed with notables when we walk by Erick Lindgren a dozen times before noticing him. E-Dog is at a very tough table with the likes of Stefan Matsson, Allan Bække, and Rui Milhomens. And sure enough, his better half, Erica Schoenberg is lurking at a table not too far away.

We've also spied Miami John Cernuto over in the corner, and it's a pleasure to see him over here across the pond doing some work. He's back-to-back with Paul Testud at the adjacent table.

04-15-2010 14:08 UTC+2

Chen Clubs Gillard?

[user76023]

With the board reading {4-Hearts}

, [Removed:361] Gillard thought long and hard before calling Andrew Chen's 3,000 bet. The river was the {2-Clubs}

making both the backdoor flush and the house. Gillard checked again and Chen bet 6,000 but this time the Frenchman decided to fold on the river.

04-15-2010 14:13 UTC+2

Minieri Gets Lucky

[user46392]

Max Heinzelmann in the hijack raised, only for Dario Minieri to reraise to 2,275 in the cutoff. A third gentleman now four-bet to 5,200. Interesting. Back to Heinzelmann, who five-bet to 12,500. "How much do you have behind?" asked Minieri ominously. Answer: 23,000. Minieri announced raise and pushed his whole stack across the line. The third player got out of the way, but Heinzelmann made the call.

Heinzelmann: {A-Clubs}

Minieri:

Board: bang! {9-Diamonds}

It seems that someone else had folded a king, making that a one-outer that Mr. Minieri smacked. Heinzelmann had to endure an agonizing pause while the dealer established whether or not he was busto; he was, and walked off sighing.

Minieri is up to a most likely chip-leading 70,000.

Tags: Dario Minieri