Nicolas Levi and PokerStars Team Pro JP Kelly, fresh from their recent WSOPE success have found themselves sitting next to each other once again, as they did on Day 2 of the WSOPE main event.
Levi was trying to get us to answer who was better, Kelly or his compatriot Sam Trickett, but while we working on what the possible answer could be, Levi got involved in a hand.
The UTG player had raised to 450 with Todd Terry calling in early position, Levi called in the small blind and Team PokerStars Pro Richard Toth also called from the big blind. The flop came and it was checked to the original raiser, who bet 1,225, Terry passed and Levi check-raised to 2,900. Toth now got out of the way and the original raiser also folded, the "Hatpimp" is off and running once more.
We spotted young Viktor Blom heading for the door, looking rather angry. But he always looks kind of angry (he just has an angry face, we think) and upon inspection of his empty seat we discovered that he's still in, but down to around 20,000. Mr. Blom is perfectly capable of overcoming this sort of setback, so we're not too worried about him just yet. Presumably he'll be back shortly.
The following people you might know have made their way into the tournament are; the number on the board is now over 500.
- Annette Obrestad
- Jeffrey Lisandro
- Chad Brown
- Phil Ivey
The last of those is seated at a very interesting table with Kathy Liebert, Team PokerStars Pro Gualter Salles and holder of the world record in endurance poker Paul Zimbler.
Lars Romundsta opened to 300 and Liz Lieu 3-bet on the button to 800. Romundsta made the call to see a Gobi-desert dry flop. It was checked to Lieu who bet 500 and Romundsta made the call.
The turn went check-check before Romunsta fired out 1,050 on the river. Lieu made the call and Romundsta sighed and immediately mucked, allowing Lieu to take the pot without showdown.
Incidentally Lieu has been recovering from an illness over the last week which prevented her from playing any of the WSOPE events, which she admits she really hated missing.
As always, certain tables are more impressive than others.
Our personal favourite right now features the eclectic mix that is World Poker Open champion and EPT Vilamoura finalist Sam Trickett, Team PokerStars Pro Jude Ainsworth, Dutch field hockey legend Fatima Moreira de Melo and serial do-weller in all things Juha Helppi.
The one the TV crews are all over is the table where Team PokerStars Sports Star Boris Becker is sitting next to last year's November Niner James Akenhead, with Team PokerStars Pro Johnny Lodden across the table.
Elsewhere a very impressive table is forming, already boasting newly signed Team PokerStars Pro Liv Boeree and her fellow Team Pro Sebastian Ruthenberg, JC Tran, British soap star and GUKPT winner Michael Greco, and WSOPE finalists Daniel Steinberg and Ronald Lee.
We walked up to see the dealer putting the turn card down on a board. There was 2,400 chips in the pot, and Arnaud Esquevin checked. He was heads-up with Freddy Deeb, and Deeb fired out 3,000 chips. Esquevin shot him a wide-eyed glare, then smoothly made the call.
The filled out the board, and Deeb bet another 8,000. Esquevin's big eyes stared right at Deeb for another few seconds, but he surrendered after some thought. Deeb opened up his , saying, "Look at this. The same nine-high from before."
We're not sure what he's alluding to from a previous hand, but Deeb is up to 35,000 and already trying to conjure up some action from his table.
The room at the Hilton is absolutely heaving with players today, there's nearly 500 and it's close to the point where some players are suggesting that with the tables so close together that it could be a fire hazard. Perhaps next year, the EPT will be looking at using an extra room and/or start today, but for now the players are as tightly packed as my holiday bags.
Meanwhile Tony Cousineau and Adam Levy sounded (impressively) like they knew what they were talking about when mentioning the Manchester United vs Valencia match from last night.
and it was checked to the original raiser, who bet 1,225, Terry passed and Levi check-raised to 2,900. Toth now got out of the way and the original raiser also folded, the "Hatpimp" is off and running once more.
flop. It was checked to Lieu who bet 500 and Romundsta made the call.
went check-check before Romunsta fired out 1,050 on the 
river. Lieu made the call and Romundsta sighed and immediately mucked, allowing Lieu to take the pot without showdown.
board. There was 2,400 chips in the pot, and Arnaud Esquevin checked. He was heads-up with Freddy Deeb, and Deeb fired out 3,000 chips. Esquevin shot him a wide-eyed glare, then smoothly made the call.
, saying, "Look at this. The same nine-high from before."
