Some silent but curious action saw William Thorson's stack slip to 37,000 and Kevin Stani's rise to 45,000.
It looked as though Thorson (button) had called a bet from Stani (small blind) on the turn of the board but was contemplating a 3,800 bet from Stani on the river when we arrived. Thorson thought about it for a long time, jiggling his leg and occasionally looking at his hole cards, before folding.
Stani, who as you may recall took down the inaugural EPT Tallinn way back in, er, earlier this month, is one of a horde of previous EPT winners who've decided to take another shot at the top spot today. Among the Day 1b field who know what it feels like to win one of these are Liv Boeree, Jan Skampa, Carter Phillips, Bjorn-Erik Glenne, Max Lykov, Christophe Benzimra, Salvatore Bonavena, Noah Boeken, ElkY and Sebastian Ruthenberg, as well as reigning Vilamoura champion Antonio Matias. As each EPT goes by and a new champion is crowned, the pool of people eligible to become the first person ever to win two EPTs increases. Jan Skampa, Allan Bække and Arnaud Mattern have all come heartbreakingly close to it, but so far no-one has ever actually done the double. Whoever does it first will be propelled instantly to poker legend status. Please, watch this space.
NAPT winner Tom 'KingsofCards' Marchese raised Karim Lehkamp's bet of 1,150 to 3,700 on a flop of . Lehkamp made the call before checking the turn where Marchese bet a substantial 7,100.
A little dwell from the Dutchman and then the big shove all-in for about 25,000. Marchese sighed and quickly folded. He still has about 50,000 however.
The Pokerstars EPT 2010 has officially topped the previous record for attendance and prizepool at a live poker event here in Portugal. Prior to this year's event, the 2009 incarnation of the EPT pulled in 322 players, while the actual country record was a squeak above this at 326.
With at least 195 confirmed for today's flight yesterday, a satellite having run last night, and 181 taking their seats on 1A, this means that there's a new record in town (and of course a new top pool of cash generated by these high rollers, qualifiers, pros and enthusiastic amateurs).
Confirmation of the total number of attendants coming shortly!
Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier might not be in quite the form he was over the last year or so but he's still the person you never want to give an easy chip to.
That was no doubt playing on William Thorson's mind when he was facing a 5,000 chip bet on the river of a board, ElkY had bet double the pot on the river and a disgusted Thorson ended up throwing his cards away. With these two players sharing a table and Jeff Sarwer there also, you can expect there to be one very large stack by the end of the day and perhaps one or more very grumpy people leaving the tournament floor.
About half a level ago David John received a full double through to over 40,000 holding pocket Aces (the majority going in on the river after his opponent bet out 6,125 and then called his shove of around 16k). But the same hand just now dropped him back to 15k after he paid off Leonid Bilokur's set on the turn... Although he'd flopped it with his , the board now stood and this is where the betting took off - John bet 7,950, Bilokur raised to 18,000, and after a good look at the bet, the pot, his stack etc. John put his opponent all in for around 12k more. Nodding when he saw his opponent's hand and calmly paying him off, John is back to square one.
With the board reading Liv Boeree fired out 500 against her preflop raising opponent who made the call.
The river was the and Boeree now bet 700 only to find her opponent raising it up to 2,100. The EPT San Remo champion looked perplexed with a "Hang-on-a-minute-guv'nor-that -ain't-s'pposed-to-be-'appenin g!" look on her face. After a couple of minutes she made the call and her opponent turned over for third pair. Boeree then flipped the gutshot straight-drawing which had managed to river second pair., good enough for the pot.
button in Safari
board but was contemplating a 3,800 bet from Stani on the 
river when we arrived. Thorson thought about it for a long time, jiggling his leg and occasionally looking at his hole cards, before folding.
. Lehkamp made the call before checking the 
turn where Marchese bet a substantial 7,100.
board, ElkY had bet double the pot on the river and a disgusted Thorson ended up throwing his cards away. With these two players sharing a table and Jeff Sarwer there also, you can expect there to be one very large stack by the end of the day and perhaps one or more very grumpy people leaving the tournament floor.
, the board now stood 
Liv Boeree fired out 500 against her preflop raising opponent who made the call.
