Saenko Leads After Day 1b
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Today was a record-setting day at the PokerStars.com EPT Prague. Yesterday's Day 1a flight had drawn 234 runners to the felt, and this Day 1b session pulled an impressive 488 additional players to round out the field at 722. That's far and away the largest major poker tournament ever hosted by the Czech Republic, and it puts a first prize of €775,000 up for grabs.
At the end of the eight levels, Andrey Saenko has emerged from this flight with the most chips, and his 200,800 put him in the overall lead heading into the combined Day 2. He's the only player to tick over the 200,000-chip mark over the course of the two starting days.
The Team PokerStars Pros were out en masse on Day 1b, including the other half of the Team Czech Republic contingent, Martin Hruby. Slovakia's Dag Palovic was here, too -- and dressed in drag, no less. Both of those men survived their opening days, as did Liv Boeree, Lex Veldhuis, Jude Ainsworth, Luca Pagano, Bertrand Grospellier, and 2010 World Champ Jonathan Duhamel.
For other unlucky souls, though, the eliminations came at a torrid pace as the day dragged on. 2010 WSOP Main Event champion Pius Heinz could not escape; neither could his countrywoman Sandra Naujoks, neither could Salvatore Bonavena, Arnaud Mattern, Dario Minieri, nor serial EPT qualifier and all-around friendly chap, Pierre Neuville.
It looks like very close to 300 players have survived this Day 1b, and they'll join the 133 Day 1a survivors for a big Day 2 on Wednesday. We'll be back here to pick up the action at noon CET, and we hope you'll join us then!
Until tomorrow, all that's left is goodnight.