Brummelhuis Leads After Day 1B of the Master Classics of Poker Main Event
Day 1B of the Master Classics of Poker saw a much larger turnout than Day 1A. A total of 191 entries were made into the €4,300 event, growing the total to 266 and 75 players survived Day 1B.
A small legion of familiar faces and former champions made their way to Holland Casino Amsterdam for the annual event. Among those to bag were Noah Boeken, Stefan Wolzak, Lex Veldhuis, and Steve O'Dwyer.
A Strong Dutch Showing
It was a who's who of Dutch poker in the tournament room, with a battery of international stars joining in on the fun. While players like Chino Rheem, Jan Eric Schwippert, Davidi Kitai, and Bart Spijkers all gave it their best, they didn't make it through the nine levels played on Day 1B. They all still have one last chance to enter though as registration remains open till play gets underway on Day 2.
Dutch poker star Fatima Moreira de Melo was among those falling victim to a lack of rungood. She got it in with a flopped straight with a flush draw to go with it against a player holding a bare higher straight draw. The dealer burned and turned the worst card in the deck for the recent Dutch Poker Hall of Famer; her opponent made a higher straight and the river didn't give her the much-needed diamond to stay alive.
Legendary Dutch player Rob Hollink also departed early on. He got it in with ace-king against Marcel Goldenbelt's jacks. Hollink didn't connect with the board and was forced to reenter.
More Day 1B Survivors
Jasper Meijer van Putten, who won the last EPT in Prague before this year's resurrection of the tour, had a good showing on Day 1B, leading for some part of the day. The biggest contribution to his stack came in the form of flopped trips versus flopped trips, with Meijer van Putten's superior kicker making for the deciding factor. In the end, he bagged 87,900.
David Boyaciyan, an MCOP winner with a nice EPT Prague track record of his own, couldn't miss out on his hometown tournament and made his entrance as well. One of the best performing Dutch poker players has taken a bit easier approach to poker recently but hadn't forgotten his tricks, with no sign of being rusty whatsoever. He bagged 89,000 in chips.
Not just the live pros came out for the biggest poker tournament in Holland, the online delegation also made their appearance. Players like Luuk Gieles, Jans Arends, Rens Feenstra, and Jasper Wetemans all sat down right when the event got underway and made it through the nine levels of play.
November Niner Michiel Brummelhuis ended the day with the heaviest of bags; he turned 30,000 into 193,100. He's had plenty of success in this event. In 2016 and 2015, he finished 13th. In 2014, he finished 18th and in 2013, he finished 26th. After play concluded, he predicted finishing eighth this year.
While there was a hiatus between Day 1A (Friday) and Day 1B (Tuesday), the event now plays out like a regular tournament with Day 2 getting underway Wednesday at 2 p.m. Blinds will be 600/1,200 with a 1,200 big blind ante. PokerNews will once again be present to bring you all the updates you can ask for. Check the PokerNews MCOP Live Updates to stay in the loop.
with already some big chips in the pot. 
completed the board and Feenstra bet 6,400. Kuhlman tanked for a bit before flicking in a 5,000-chip to call.
for a missed open-ended. Kuhlman showed 
and took down the pot with nothing but ace-high.
in middle position and got a call from the cutoff and small blind. Meijer van Putten continuation bet two-thirds of the pot on 
with two clubs and a heart. Both of his opponents called.
, bringing a second flush draw. The small blind checked and Meijer van Putten bet two-thirds of the pot again. The cutoff folded but the small blind shoved, which was effectively a min raise. With his trips, Meijer van Putten called. The small blind showed 
for an inferior trips, and the river blanked to gift Meijer van Putten the sizable pot.
off suit for an open-ended. Moreira de Melo had the goods with 
for the flopped straight and a flush draw on top. 
on the turn, however, did her in. The 
on the river wasn't one of the cards she was looking for and she left the tournament right before the level went up.
for 300 and found a caller in Robert Soogea. Jorryt van Hoof squeezed to 1,800 and both Brummelhuis and Soogea called.
on the river made for a rainbow board with a straight readily available to all. Action checked to Van Hoof who bet 6,000. Brummelhuis shoved for about starting stack and Van Hoof called with 
saw Alblas check. The initial raiser continued for 1,100 and under the gun plus one folded, Brummelhuis and Alblas both called.
turn and was followed by checks from the initial raiser and Brummelhuis. All three of them checked the 
with a big smile on his face. His two opponents both mucked.
and called. The blinds and other raisers all folded, and Kuhlman soon found out he was up against 
.
and Kuhlman's neighbor exited the tournament area. Kuhlman now up to around 40,000.
