2017 Master Classics of Poker

Day 1b of the Master Classics of Poker got underway this afternoon and the poker aficionados were out in force. Not just the local Dutch community signed up, a small legion of internationally renowned poker stars entered as well. In the end, 86 players survived the day of 168 that entered.

The second starting day had another 9 levels in store for the players. When the first shuffle up and deal wat heard, 100 players had chips in front of them. That number gradually climbed throughout the day, eventually halting at 168. Amongst them, big stars like John Juanda, Ben Heath, Ivan Luca, and Byron Kaverman.

John Juanda never got anything going for himself, and failed to make Day 2 on his first bullet. Fortunately for the number 7 of poker's all-time money list, he's allowed to reenter before the start of Day 2.

The Dutch were out in force as well, trying to get themselves in the best position to become the next MCOP champion on home soil. Hakim Zoufri, who won the event last year, failed to make Day 2 on his first 2 bullets. He first busted with a pair and open-ended in a 3-bet pot to Jasper Wetemans. His 2nd try ended with sevens against tens.

Noah Boeken, another former champion, wasn't too lucky on Day 1b either. He got rivered after he got it in well ahead on the turn to bust his first bullet. His second bullet, he ran second pair into top-pair and never caught up. With only a single reentry allowed per starting day, Boeken only has a single option to reenter left.

Leading the pack of 86 survivors of Day 1b is Igor Yaroshevsky. The Ukrainian player changed his 30,000 starting stack into 146,700. Close on his heels is Krasimir Yankov with 141,300. The best Dutch player sits in 3rd, Joris Ruys collected 125,200. The shortest player coming back for Day 2 is Fatima Moreira de Melo, she bagged just 2 chips: 10,000.

Action resumes on Day 2 with blinds at 500 and 1,000. PokerNews.com will again be present to cover all the important hands and bring you all the updates one can ask for.

And the day is done. We'll be back shortly with assorted end-of-day chip counts and a recap of today's action.

From middle position, Giuliano Bendinelli opened for 1,600. His neighbor Foeke Deinum called from the hijack, the big blind called as well.

The big blind checked on and Bendinelli bet 2,600. Deinum called, the big blind folded.

Both players checked the on the turn and on the river and Bendinelli showed . Deinum mucked. Giuliano Bendinelli registered for this event late, since he was busy winning the €770 Omaha event earlier today.

With just 15 minutes to play for the day, a lot of the players seem to take it easy. A lot of beers are out already, not a lot of big pots were seen.

Just now, Dennis Lavrijsen opened for 1,800. In the cutoff, Pim Kuipers called before Rens Feenstra 3-bet to 6,500 from the button. Both blinds folded and so did Lavrijsen. Kuipers called.

They checked down the board of and Kuipers showed . Feenstra tabled and took down the small pot.

Just 100 players remain from the 168 entries so far today. That makes for an average stack of just over 50,000, good for 63 big blinds. Play is scheduled to finish in 35 minutes. Registration is open until the start of Day 2.

Dennis Lavrijsen, who's bust out with kings against aces we reported on not too long ago, bought back in. He's off to a better start now than on his first bullet.

From early position, Ivan Luca opened to 2,000. Dennis Lavrijsen 3-bet the hijack to 6,000 and on the button, Raoul Refos 4-bet shoved for 11,200. The blinds and Luca folded, Lavrijsen called.

Dennis Lavrijsen:
Raoul Refos:

The flop of gave Refos a flush draw but those outs were counterfeited with the on the turn. Lavrijsen just needed to dodge the aces, queens, and the case deuce. He did just that with the on the river. Refos flush wasn't beating Lavrijsen's full house and the former said his goodbyes before departing.

In the last hand before the break, we got to the table as we saw Foeke Deinum with 5,500 in front of him on a flop of acting out of the big blind. His opponent, Michiel Brummelhuis in the hijack, raised to 12,100. Deinum called.

The hit the turn and Deinum checked. Brummelhuis thought for about 30 seconds and moved in for 18,550 effectively. Deinum called all in.

"You have a draw?" Deinum asked. Brummelhuis nodded.

Foeke Deinum:
Michiel Brummelhuis:

The river was a blank and Deinum doubled.