The PokerStars European Poker Tour is going out with a bang, as EPT Prague, the tour's final Main Event, has drawn a record field with registration still open. So far, 1,178 players have registered for the event, and that number has the potential to continue to climb until the tournament gets going at noon local time here in the Czech capital.
Of those 1,178 players so far, 591 have made their way through a pair of starting day to take Day 2 seats. The player opening the heaviest bag will be American Ronald Morandini (237,400), a little known player who has just around $5,000 in recorded tournament cashes. Others who has plenty of ammo to work with at the start of day include Matas Cimbolas (215,100), Anton Petrov (214,800), Maxim Lykov (180,400), and Marton Czuczor (161,600).
Players will begin with Level 9 (500/1,000/100), so those registering at the buzzer will have 30 big blinds to work with at the start of play. Day 2 is scheduled to be on the shorter side with six levels lasting 75 minutes apiece. There will be two 20-minute breaks after the first two pairs of levels and things will end at 1,500/3,000/500.
Stay tuned to PokerNews throughout the day for live updates to see how the final EPT Main Event shakes out on the first day that will see all the players under one roof.
Matas Cimbolas raised to 2,500 and said in table chat "I promise you a big pot," then short stack and three-time WSOP bracelet winner Michael Gathy moved all in. Attila Valentai in the big blind asked for a count and the shove of Gathy was for 17,500. Valentai called and so did Cimbolas.
On the flop, Valentai bet 13,500 and Cimbolas gave it some thought. "This doesn't make any sense," the Lithuanian said and folded face up.
Michael Gathy:
Attila Valentai:
Cimbolas patted himself on the shoulder for the good fold, and the turn and river were both blanks to eliminate Gathy. "I promised you a big pot, but we messed up," Cimbolas added to Valentai.
Charlie Carrel (From Super High Roller Final Table)
As we just reported, Charlie Carrel's stack was down to four-digits. He now is free to join the impromptu $25,500 EPT Single-Day High Roller II that wasn't originally on the schedule and just added today after Steve O'Dwyer pitched the idea yesterday.
Carrel shoved for about 7,000 with ace-four suited and was called by ace-eight suited. His hand wasn't able to improve enough for the win or the chop, and he is one of the latest batch of casualties on Day 2.
Tournament staff has produced the prize pool info, available in the corresponding tab above. The winner of the final European Poker Tour Main Event will bank €774,600, while a min-cash in 231st will be worth €7,560.
PokerStars Team SportStar Fatima Moreira de Melo was one of the latest casualties of the tournament. With still about 22 big blinds, both Moreira de Melo and her opponent checked on a flop. She led out for a bet of 3,000 on the turn and her opponent shoved. The former Dutch field hockey player turned over and mistakenly thought she was just fading a diamond for the flush after her opponent turned over .
The on the river was of no help to Moreira de Melo and only then after the chips were being sent to her opponent did she realize her opponent also had a queen in his hand as well along with a higher kicker. While Moreira de Melo had her opponent covered, she was left with just two big blinds and left the tournament room a hand or two later and was debating in the lobby about whether or not to enter one of the day's later events.
With around 35,000 in the pot and the turn reading , Mikhail Korotkikh moved all in. Jerry Odeen from one seat over asked for a count and the shove of Korotkikh was for double the pot, 72,100 in total.
"Sorry guys, this will take some time," Odeen said and tried to get some information from his opponent. "I have a big big hand," he added and Korotkikh leaned over and said "English, no," prompting laughs from two other Russians at the table.
After half a minute, Korotkikh said "time" and Odeen shook his head. Tournament staff came over and the Russian said "no time, he is my friend," almost hugging Odeen. However, a few minutes later he then indeed called the clock. With 30 seconds left, Odeen called for most of his stack.
Mikhail Korotkikh:
Jerry Odeen:
"Damn, I thought I was ahead," came from Odeen, who saw the blank on the river to drop him back to around starting stack.
Maxim Lykov raised from the hijack and picked up a single caller in Sergej Barbarez on the button. On the flop, Lykov continued for 5,500 and Barbarez called before the on the turn slowed down the Russian. Lykov checked and Barbarez bet 6,600. Lykov check-raised to 20,000 and Barbarez moved all in for 105,700.
After spending quite some time in the think tank, staring over at his opponent, Lykov called and Barbarez just nodded.
Sergej Barbarez:
Maxim Lykov:
The on the river was a blank and Andy Black said "good call" over to Lykov. The Russian replied "not sure, I didn't like to call 106,000 after my bet," while raking in the big pot.
Tony Dunst got his remaining chips in the middle with on a ten-high board but was up against the of an opponent in the blinds, who we were told check-called the flop and check-jammed the turn. Dunst didn't catch on the river.
After a raise by Aleksey Ponakov and a call by Artur Rudziankov, Vanessa Selbst defended her big blind after having previously lost a big pot. The flop fell and Selbst checked. Ponakov continued for 9,000 and Rudziankov called, then Selbst check-raised all in for 24,700.
Ponakov reraised to force a fold from Rudziankov and Selbst was in desperate shape.
Vanessa Selbst:
Aleksey Ponakov:
The turn and river however completed a runner runner flush to let Selbst double less than 10 spots away from the money. Rudziankov said "if you just call, I am getting there also, I had ace jack of clubs."
Attila Valentai bubbles EPT Prague 2016 Main Event
There were two players all in for their tournament lives holding pocket aces and got them to hold and survived. The bubble broke on a third table, but not without some excitement.
Mike Brandau opened from middle position to 8,000 before Attila Valentai three-bet all in for 40,000 from the cutoff and got a call from Brandau.
Attila Valentai:
Mike Brandau:
Valentai appeared to be safe once a king hit the flop. The on the turn was another safe card from Valentai who was only fading two outs. However, the spiked the river to send Valentai to the rail on the bubble and send Brandau's stack up to 209,500.
Meanwhile, all remaining players will come back for Day 3 with the knowledge that they have made at least the minimum cash of €7,560.
flop, Valentai bet 13,500 and Cimbolas gave it some thought. "This doesn't make any sense," the Lithuanian said and folded 
face up.
turn and 
river were both blanks to eliminate Gathy. "I promised you a big pot, but we messed up," Cimbolas added to Valentai.
flop. She led out for a bet of 3,000 on the 
turn and her opponent shoved. The former Dutch field hockey player turned over 
and mistakenly thought she was just fading a diamond for the flush after her opponent turned over 
. 
, Mikhail Korotkikh moved all in. Jerry Odeen from one seat over asked for a count and the shove of Korotkikh was for double the pot, 72,100 in total.
on the turn slowed down the Russian. Lykov checked and Barbarez bet 6,600. Lykov check-raised to 20,000 and Barbarez moved all in for 105,700.
on a ten-high board but was up against the 
turn and 
river however completed a runner runner flush to let Selbst double less than 10 spots away from the money. Rudziankov said "if you just call, I am getting there also, I had ace jack of clubs."
flop. The 