"Longest hand in history" is probably a bit of an overstatement but this did go on a long time for a hand that did not even make the river. The cutoff had opened preflop and Michael Martin (former EPT London winner) had 3-bet to 1,200 only for the cutoff to 4-bet to 2,750 after a couple of minutes dwell.
It was Martin's turn to think and he also took his time in making the call to see a flop.The cutoff then thought for about 2 minutes more before checking and Martin again thought for a while before firing out 3,500.
A further amount of dwelling.
Finally the cutoff called to see the turn and again checked, slightly faster this time (which was a relief). Martin fired out 6,500 and we went back into the tank with the cutoff - the latter eventually having the clock called on him and he finally folded with about 30 seconds remaining.
PokerStars Team Pro Johannes Strassmann has increased his stack by around 50% in the first half hour of play, mostly due to this hand: a flop of generated a lot of interest from Strassmann and an in-position be-hatted player. Strassmann bet, got raised and promptly pushed out 6,200 total. He was called. The turn brought the and two checks, while the river came . Strassman checked again, and his opponent bet 7,000. He called quickly, showing a set () beating the of his opponent.
PCA winner Galen Hall raised to 300 preflop UTG and Kristoffer Thorsson flat-called next to him, the hijack then raised to 1,100 and former Spanish international footballer Poli Rincon made the call on the button.
The flop was and everyone checked to Rincon who bet 1,750 and only Thorsson made the call to see the turn. Thorsson checked again and Rincon quickly fired 2,750 but the Swede raised to 9,000 and the Spaniard made an almost instant call.
The river made it four to the straight and Thorsson moved all in, Rincon thought for about a minute, took a deep breath and made the call. Thorsson showed for the turned nut straight and Rincon flipped er... thinking he was being bluffed.
Several of the players gracing yesterday's High Roller final have had an evening off before plunging into the Main Event. Vanessa Rousso (5th yesterday for €100,000), Juha Helppi (3rd - €185,000) and Benny Spindler (runner up - €316,000) are already at the table and we'll be very surprised if Bertrand Grospellier, the winner of the event, doesn't turn up at some point in the next few levels.
Day 1b has started with a better turnout at the first shuffle - the early birds have all registered for the second day, it appears. Among those taking their seats at the start of the first level are:
button in Safari
flop.The cutoff then thought for about 2 minutes more before checking and Martin again thought for a while before firing out 3,500.
turn and again checked, slightly faster this time (which was a relief). Martin fired out 6,500 and we went back into the tank with the cutoff - the latter eventually having the clock called on him and he finally folded with about 30 seconds remaining.
generated a lot of interest from Strassmann and an in-position be-hatted player. Strassmann bet, got raised and promptly pushed out 6,200 total. He was called. The turn brought the 
and two checks, while the river came 
. Strassman checked again, and his opponent bet 7,000. He called quickly, showing a set (
) beating the 
of his opponent.
and everyone checked to Rincon who bet 1,750 and only Thorsson made the call to see the 
