According to Maria Demetriou, her table is currently the Tony G & Roland Show, not necessarily in terms of hands won, but more with regards to the incessant and highly entertaining banter on display.
Maria, meanwhile, is keeping her head and refusing to be intimidated by the unrelenting confidence of the pairing, her 12k with the second chance still behind more than enough to compete with the famous pros.
Apparently, it's been a gradual incline for Maria, but she did confess to playing quads overly slow against Roy Brindley, checking her flopped Jacks all the way to the river before min-raising Roy's 1k bet. Roy called, but I feel Maria rued the lack of any aggression on the turn.
Tony G
He may be sipping water in this picture, but with the Loose Cannon offering players a spot of champagne, Tony was as keen as mustard to drink like a queen, but not before sending Alexander Roumeliotis to the rail.
With the youngster all-in for around 2.5K, Tony made the call with adding, "I think there's tilt equity here", suggesting that Alexander was perhaps steaming after a previous hand.
With Alexander revealing , Tony commented, "Hey, I was right", before hitting a Jack on the flop and avoiding a King or Queen thereafter.
Matt Dale, more used to railing his players in events like this, certainly has the combined gamble of a good number of them put together. He was all in (actually all in, for his tournament life, as opposed to for just the first half of his Double Chance Chips) just a minute ago - in pretty bad shape with his against Richard Wheatley's on a flop of .
A hefty pause ensued, as cameras were brought to focus on Matt Dale's optimistic face as he entreated, "Just one time can I outdraw someone. Hideously. Nine! Nine! Actually, Nine on the turn, Ace on the river - I'll be happy - you'll win, but at least it will be exciting."
After what felt like five minutes, the turn came down: . As always happens when poker players' attention has been well and truly grabbed, a bit of a yell went up, at both the outdraw and the potential flush draw for Wheatley. But the river seemed anticlimactic to everyone except a delighted Dale who regained a healthy stack and shocking table image.
Sunny Osman
Another yellow second-chance chip has gone hurtling towards the Tournament Director, this time the unhappy chappy being Sunny Osman. Faced with the tricky task of overcoming Tony G's with an inferior , Sunny was teased by an flop, which ultimately turned to dust as the turn brought a and the river a frustrating to give the Aussie the straight.
Prior to the hand, the dealer had announced "all-in", but there was still a yellow chip on the table. In response, Tony G suggested, "We can put the yellow chip in too if you want it to be a full all-in." Strangely, Sunny didn't seem too keen.
Dan Carter
Dan Carter raises to 700 after three limpers come in for 100. Big blind James Dempsey considers for a while before passing, while the first of the limpers Algimanto Hermenegildas moves in (for 2,050 more). Call from Dan with his , against the of the limp-re-raiser. A flopped, and although by the turn the board was straightening, it ended up reading , forcing Hermenegildas to take his Second Chance 5k.
Roy Houghton
Roy Brindley might be battling away at the felt today, but the original 'Roy the Boy' is today's Tournament Director and joint-owner of the Loose Cannon Club, Roy Houghton.
For those who know him, you'll understand when I tell you that he's an amusing chap, always up for a giggle and jolly good company through any long and exhausting tournament.
He might not look like Thomas Kremser, but he's certainly garnered respect in the poker world, even winning a recent award for his achievements as a tournament director.
Peter Gould might as well be at Alton Towers as he's been on a rollercoaster all day. He's kept his yellow chip throughout, but after being down to just a couple of thousand, he's now jumped up to a mammoth-in-comparision 8.7k.
He was assisted along the way though, Matt Dale raising to 300 before calling 2.2k more with the rather speculative holding of 7-3 offsuit (yep, please don't adjust your sets).
He didn't really have an explanation, except for "Well, I've run into Aces four times now, I thought surely they can't be out there again."
It seems Matt Dale is the English Gus Hansen, except with slightly more hair.
After a flying start, Matt Dale has been taken down a peg or two by Izak Young, the elder finding the American Airlines at a crucial time and leaving Dale's Pocket Knaves in the starting blocks.
The raggy board meant a double up for Young, although he still only has 4.3K with Dale keeping his head above water on 8.3K.
"I think I need another beer after that," added Dale who clearly has alcohol on his mind.
Ah well, hair of the dog could just be the ticket.
Maria Demetriou
With the blinds braced to rise to 50 and 100, petite but ever-so-lethal Maria Demetriou is showing no fear in the face of WPT and EPT victor Roland de Wolfe.
Raising it up pre-flop with , the East Midlander was called by Mr. de Wolfe in the blind. A flop later, and all the chips flew in, Roland betting, Maria raising, Roland pushing all-in and Maria making the call.
Although ahead with her top pair, Maria was rather unnerved to see the menacing sight of an , Roland possessing more than his fair share of outs.
However, with blanks hitting the turn and river, Roland was unable to find that cow's behind with his banjo and was forced to request his second chance and lose that magic yellow chip.
"You didn't believe me?" inquired Roland.
"You could have any two cards," replied Maria.
Roland's reputation as a wild player clearly precedes him. Meanwhile, Maria jumps up to 8.5K.
adding, "I think there's tilt equity here", suggesting that Alexander was perhaps steaming after a previous hand.
, Tony commented, "Hey, I was right", before hitting a Jack on the flop and avoiding a King or Queen thereafter.
against Richard Wheatley's 
. As always happens when poker players' attention has been well and truly grabbed, a bit of a yell went up, at both the outdraw and the potential flush draw for Wheatley. But the 
river seemed anticlimactic to everyone except a delighted Dale who regained a healthy stack and shocking table image.
with an inferior 
, Sunny was teased by an 
flop, which ultimately turned to dust as the turn brought a 
and the river a frustrating 
to give the Aussie the straight.
of the limp-re-raiser. A 
flopped, and although by the turn the board was straightening, it ended up reading 
, the East Midlander was called by Mr. de Wolfe in the blind. A 
flop later, and all the chips flew in, Roland betting, Maria raising, Roland pushing all-in and Maria making the call.
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