There has been a crazy amount of coolers these first two levels. The latest came to us via Team PokerStars Pro Martin Hruby.
On the rail, he told me that he, Mikita Badziakouski and Byron Kaverman all saw a flop before all three got their chips in.
Hruby and Kaverman both had sets with nines and jacks respectively but Badziakouski had flopped a straight with king-queen to bust them both and move into an early chip lead.
Farhat Antoine raised to 500 from under the gun and his over-sized raise was called in three spots. Faraz Jaka called in the hijack, Anton Karasinsky in the small blind and Jake Cody in the big blind.
The flop saw Karasinsky lead out with a 1,100 and only Cody called. The duo saw the land on the turn and Karasinsky kept up his aggression and bet 1,800. Again, Cody called.
The river was the and Karasinsky bet again, increasing the size to a more substantial 4,050. Cody looked like he really wanted to call, but the Christmas jumper-sporting hero could not quite pull the trigger and he mucked his hand.
We joined the action on a board where John Eames had checked to Alexander Babich. The latter was in the cutoff and he bet 2,200 only to see Eames check-raise to 6,700. Babich tanked and ultimately folded.
Eames later told us he opened the betting then called a three-bet. Eames then check-called the flop and turn before check-raising the river.
There is a well trodden path from stadium to poker table and today in Prague we have in our midst the latest ex-professional sportsman to try his hand at poker. Sergej Barbaerez is one of the best players ever to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina and a former Bundesliga golden boot winner.
Just before break, Istvan Birizdo opened to 400 in early position. JC Alvarado three-bet to 1,200 on his direct left, and the action folded back to Birizdo, who four-bet to 2,750. Alvarado called.
The flop fell , Birizdo led out for 1,750, and Alvarado stared down Birizdo before calling.
The turn was the , Birizdo led again - this time for 3,800 - and Alvarado studied him intently before again calling.
The completed the board, and for the first time, Birizdo checked. Alvarado stared at Birizdo, then reached for chips and tossed out 5,050. Birizdo called.
Alvarado turned over for a pair of aces, and Birizdo held onto his hand for ten seconds or so, then mucked.