Welcome back to our live coverage of Season 9 of PokerStars.com EPT Sanremo Main Event. Yesterday's play saw 66 players return to the felt to battle it out for a spot among the top 24. These remaining 24 players will return today to play down to a final table of eight. The man with the best chance of getting there is Jason Tompkins who is bringing a stack of 2.423 million into play.
There were still many a recognizable name left in the field when play began yesterday. Their quest to glory, however, was cut short when their chips were forced to be shipped across the felt to other worthy competitors. Justin Bonomo, Roberto Romanello, David Vamplew, Alex Roumeliotis, and Mike Watson were among those to see their tournament come to an end on Day 4.
While those players were unable to make Day 5, other notable names were able to overcome the field and advance. Players returning today that are looking for a spot on the prestigious final table include Yevgeniy Timoshenko, Michael Benvenuti, Jason Lavallee, Thomas Gabriel, Ludovic Lacay, Micah Raskin, Matt Salsberg, the Day 3 and 4 chip leader, Inge Forsmo
Cards are soon to fly in the theater of the lavish Casino Sanremo. Be sure to stay tuned to our updates as we proceed along the path to an EPT final table!
The €2,000 No-Limit Hold'em side event continued with Day 2 yesterday, and the fiekd has been whittled down to just 38 players. All are in the money, and it's Faraz Jaka leading the way with 628,000 in chips.
The top 48 spots were paid out from the 450-player field, and everyone left is guaranteed a minimum of €5,200. Notables that cashed on Day 2, but busted are Timothy Adams (44th — €4,370), Vicent van der Fluit (42nd — €4,370), Andrey Gulyy (41st — €4,370) and Calvin Anderson (40th — €5,200).
Other notables big stacks include Jonathan Little (485,000), Melanie Weisner (478,000) and Ronny Kaiser (460,000).
The event will return to action at 3:00 PM local time today for Day 3 in hopes of grinding down to a winner. There's €210,000 up top for the champion, so it should be a great finish to the event.
For further information, see the recap on the PokerStars Blog, which includes all payouts and a full table draw. A recap of the event will be posted following the completion of the event.
It has not been a good day for Inge Forsmo. He was unlucky in that huge pot before, and now he just called off his entire stack with ace high to bust.
The Norwegian opened to 50,000 from the cut-off and was called by Negjdel Avdylaj before Jason Lavallee three-bet to 178,000 from the small blind.
Only Forsmo called to see a flop where he called a 205,000 c-bet from the Canadian. The turn came and Lavallee shoved with .
Forsmo didn't think long and called off his remaining 810,000 with for ace high! Lavalle stared hard trying to find a draw or something in his opponent's hand. When he realised the situation he shook his head.
Yevgeniy Timoshenko had already pushed twice that we had seen before he was called the third time his stack was pushed towards the middle.
He did so from the cut-off for around 500,000 and Ismael Bojang, sat in the next seat, also moved all in. The players in the blinds folded and the cards were on their backs.
Timoshenko:
Bojang:
The board ran to make Bojang a straight. A lot of the remaining players will be glad to see the back of the extremely talented Timoshenko.
Jason Tompkins began the action with a raise to 60,000 from under the gun plus one. Michael Benvenuti called from the next seat over and it folded around to Giuseppe Cefalu who moved all in for his last 671,000 from the big blind. Tompkins wasted little time moving all in over the top and Benvenuti got out of the way.
Tompkins:
Cefalu:
Cefalu was behind and in need of some help from the community cards. Unfortunately for Cefalu, the board fell and Tompkins' tens were able to hold. He's now sitting at about 1.55 million.
Matt Salsberg had a stack to match his dreams for long periods in this tournament. The TV writer/producer won WPT Paris a month ago, and an EPT trophy would've made his mantle piece nice and symmetrical.
It wasn't to be though as he busted in 16th place. Down to around 500,000 he pushed all in and was called by the burgeoning Ismael Bojang.
Salsberg:
Bojang:
The board ran to pair the German's ace.
Salsberg had a big smile on his face and wished everyone luck before he exited stage-left.
Jonas Mackoff raised to 80,000 from the button and Imed Mahmoud three-bet all in from the small blind. Action folded back to Mackoff and he made the call.
Showdown:
Mahmoud :
Mackoff:
Mahmoud's ace gave him the advantage while Mackoff needed to hit the board in order to bust his opponent. The flop went pairing Mackoff's nine and putting him in the lead.
It was now Mahmoud who needed help from the board to survive. The on the turn was not what Mahmoud wanted to see and nether was the on the river busting Mahmoud from the tournament in 15th place.
The recent rate of eliminations is showing no signs of slowing down. The latest to fall was the popular Michael Benvenuti after he and Angelo Recchia got all the chips in pre flop on the TV table.
Jason Tompkins opened with a raise to 80,000 from under the gun. It folded to Jonas Mackoff who three-bet to 190,00 from the cutoff. Cards around the table hit the muck until it was back on Tompkins who wasted no time dipping into his stack and coming out with a four-bet to 345,000.
"All in," said Mackoff.
Tompkins snapped him off and showed which was crushing Mackoff's .
The flop came down .
"Queen of spades for a sweat," said Ludovic Lacay from across the table.
The dealer seemed to oblige, as the rolled off on the turn. The river, however, was the and Tompkins was able to seize a giant pot, crippling Mackoff in the process.
Over on the TV-table, Ismael Bojang opened with a raise from middle position. Iulian Ruxandescu moved all in from the blinds and it folded back to Bojang who snap called.
Bojang:
Ruxandescu:
The flop came down and paired Ruxandescu's queen but also gave Bojang the nut flush draw.
The turn was the , which also helped both players. Ruxandescu now had two pair but was behind the ace-high flush of Bojang. Ruxandescu needed to hit one of the remaining kings or queens in order to stay alive and double up. Unfortunately for Ruxandescu, the river was the and he was eliminated in 12th place.
flop where he called a 205,000 c-bet from the Canadian. The turn came 
and Lavallee shoved with 
.
for ace high! Lavalle stared hard trying to find a draw or something in his opponent's hand. When he realised the situation he shook his head.
and that was that for Forsmo.
and Tompkins' tens were able to hold. He's now sitting at about 1.55 million.
to pair the German's ace.
on the turn was not what Mahmoud wanted to see and nether was the 
on the river busting Mahmoud from the tournament in 15th place.
so send Benvenuti on his way.
.
