Was off to a fast start chipping up to over 50k and then KK v AA aipf now at over 65k (from 30) #EPTpragueDecember 10 2012Follow
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
65,000 | 65,000 |
Roberto Romanello was planning on playing Day 1a of this main event, but felt ill all day so decided against it and bought into Day 1b instead. That has not gone too well for him so far as he is down to 23,300 chips after 1.5 levels of play.
The latest player to take chips from the former EPT Prague champion was Dermot Blain who bet 4,500 into a pot of around 7,000 on a board reading 
. Romanello considered all of his options for a few moments before deciding that calling was best. Unfortunately,it was not because Blain was sat with pocket queens, a hand that Romanello could not beat.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
39,200 | 9,200 |
|
23,300 | -6,700 |
Jonatan Hellman, who recently finished 28th in the World Series of Poker Main Event ($236,921), is off to a good start here on Day 1b of the PokerStars.net EPT Prague Main Event.
He was recently heads up against Sasa Zorc on a board of 
. Hellman led out for 2,175 into a pot of 4,000, and Zorc tank-called. Hellman turned over 
for a set of nines, and Zorc mucked his hand.
The Swede added more to his stack, and now sits with around 44,500 chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
44,500 | 14,500 |
We just told you about the tough Table 54, which currently house numerous notables with impressive résumés, and its no surprise to see the table produce some immediate action.
With 5,000 in the pot and a board reading 
, the UK's Chris Brammer fired out a bet of 4,000 and received a call from PokerStars Team Pro Dario Minieri. Brammer quietly rolled over 
for quads, and Minieri simply tossed his cards to the muck.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
37,000 | 7,000 |
|
22,500 | -7,500 |
Sorel Mizzi opened to 250 from under the gun and two to his left Tomas Nasarre called. Chady El Ojeil called in the big blind and the trio saw the 
flop appear on the felt.
El Ojeil checked, Mizzi continued with a 525 bet and only El Ojeil called. The 
turn was greeted with another check from El Ojeil, a larger bet of 1,325 from Mizzi and a quick call by El Ojeil.
The 
completed the board and when El Ojeil checked, Mizzi checked behind.
El Ojeil turned over for a full house and Mizzi mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
31,000 | 3,000 |
Rivet defeats Robert Haigh heads-up as the French Canadians continue to smash it up. Read more at the PokerStars Blog.
If you turn up late you run the risk of being sat with a bunch of heroes.
Johnny Lodden, Marc-Andre Ladouceur, Dario Minieri, Chris Brammer and John Andress know what we're talking about. They're all sat at table 54 together; ouch!
I feel most sorry for Ognjen Sekularac though. He was just moved to this table to balance the tables out. Run better, buddy!
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
30,000 | |
|
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 |
Sam Macdonald and James Keys have both had bad starts but are still playing aggressive poker to try and improve their situation.
Macdonald bet an opponent off a hand to rise to 8,500. It seems like a short stack but it offers plenty of play still at this early stage.
Keys opened from the hijack and was three-bet to 1,200 by an opponent. His response was to four-bet to 2,800. It did the job as a fold was quick in coming.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
14,500 | 1,675 |
|
8,500 |
Roberto Romanello opened the betting by limping into the pot from late position. We think he was meant to min-raise to 200 but did not realize the blinds had increased to 75/150. Whatever his intentions, his limp sparked a series of calls.
First, the player in Seat 3 called — to Romanello's direct left — then Jack Slater completed his small blind. Dermot Blain checked in the big blind and the dealer got busy dealing the 
flop.
Slater checked, Blain bet 350 only to see Romanello raise to 800. Seat 3 snap-folded but Slater cold-called Romanello's raise. Blain folded.
The turn brought the 
into play and when Slater tapped the table and checked, Romanello checked behind. The fifth community card was the 
and now Slater lead out, setting the price to play at 1,025. This was too much for Romanello to pay and Slater won the hand without showdown.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 |
