Ali Reza Fatehi changed tables twice and by then had amassed a nice profit already when raising from under the gun. Byron Kaverman called from two seats over and they headed to the flop . Fatehi continued for 7,500 and was called before firing a second barrel worth 8,700 on the turn.
Again Kaverman called before both players then checked the river. Fatehi flipped over for top pair, but had a kicker issue versus Kaverman's .
One hand later, Daniel Dvoress raised from the button and Fatehi called in the big blind. The Iranian checked his option and Dvoress bet 3,500 before immediately facing "I raise" and the squeeze of Fatehi to 8,000. That did the trick, as Dvoress released his cards.
The legendary Erik Seidel booked a €2,015,000 score, getting the best of a 71 entry field in this thing last year.
With about 20 minutes left in the first level here today, Seidel took his seat in defense of his title and promptly raised, making it 2,500 from early position. Paul Newey called on the button and Mikita Badziakouski defended his big blind, sending them three-handed to an flop.
Badziakouski checked, but when Seidel continued for 4,000 and Newey folded, he jacked it up, check-raising 10,000 more.
Seidel folded and his title defense is on, but off to a slow start.
In the meantime, Dominik Nitsche and Sean Winter have both joined the field as well.
Charlie Carrel won a smaller pot against Max Silver, who had just arrived not long ago with Dominik Nitsche and both took their seats on separate tables. Andrew Lichtenberger joined the line up shortly after, as did Nick Petrangelo and Stephen Chidwick, bringing the total up to 26 right now.
Vladimir Troyanovskiy opened the betting with a raise to 3,000 from first position. His next door neighbor Nick Petrangelo made it 9,000 to go and action folded to Charlie Carrel on the button. The young Brit cold four bet to 22,000 and both blinds released. Troyanovskiy called and action was back on Petrangelo. The bracelet winner five bet to 65,000 and Carrel folded just about instantly. Tryanovskiy reluctantly followed suit, and Petrangelo showed the while raking in the chips.
Ivan Luca must have arrived no more than 10 minutes ago and has almost doubled up his stack thanks to a big pot versus Mike "Timex" McDonald. The board was already completed, reading , and Luca had checked out of the big blind. There were about 70,000 chips in the middle and McDonald fired a bet worth 25,000 on the button.
Luca counted out his stack carefully and then made a huge check-raise to more than 150,000. McDonald asked the dealer for a count, received 168,000 as answer, and gave it some more thought. Eventually, the Canadian called and was shown for a full house by Luca to muck his cards.
Timofey Kuznetsov opened under the gun to 3,500 and Byron Kaverman slowly and deliberately made the call right behind him.
The rest of the table got out of the way and the two went heads-up to a flop. Kuznetsov continued for 3,500 and Kaverman flatted. Kuznetsov checked the turn, but called when Kaverman took the lead, betting 4,500.
Kuznetsov checked again when the river was revealed, and Kaverman bet 11,000. Kuznetsov called and mucked when Kaverman turned over the .
Raking in the pot gave Kaverman a spot among the early leaders and sent Kuznetsov below starting for the first time today.
Ivan Luca raised to 2,700 and was called by both players in the blinds including Haralabos Voulgaris. The latter check-called a continuation bet worth 3,200 on the flop and Luca as well as the Canadian went heads-up to the turn where no betting action took place.
On the river, Voulgaris bet small, making it 3,200 to go, and Luca pondered about his decision for half a minute before tossing in the chips. Voulgaris flashed for a set of jacks while Luca had that beat with for a flush.
Byron Kaverman made it 3,000 to go from first position. He was called in two spots: Daniel Dvoress on the button and Ali Reza Fatehi in the big blind both were eager to see a flop.
The three of them got to work with and action checked to Dvoress. "Oxota" made it 5,000 even by tossing in a single blue chip, and was called by both of his opponents.
Fatehi and Kaverman checked again on the turn and Dvoress now bet 16,000. Fatehi called, Kaverman folded.
The river came the , making for four to a straight on the board on top of the three diamonds. Fatehi bet out 27,000 and Dvoress went into the tank. After some minutes he made the call, and Fatehi showed . Dvoress revealed his and took down the sizable pot.
Vladimir Troyanovskiy raised to 3,000 and David Peters three-bet to 8,500 from the button, receiving a call from the Russian. On the flop, Troyanovskiy check-called a bet worth 7,000 before both players checked through the turn.
The dealer burned and turned the as final community card and Troyanovskiy now changed his strategy and led for 12,000. Peters called and was shown for kings and eights, scooping the pot with his for kings and queens.