Day 1b of the Main Event at the 2010 Full Tilt Poker Merit Cyprus Classic has come to a close. Seventy-one players came to play today and 61 will return tomorrow to join the 80 survivors from Day 1a. Nobody cracked six figures when all was said and done today, but several are very close.
November Niner John Dolan finished the day with 95,400 and is looking to spread his Main Event success to the other side of the world. Sorel Mizzi bagged up a stack of 90,225 and is always dangerous with chips at his disposal. Among those that will not be back for Day are WPT Champion Roy Winston and WSOP bracelet winner Martin Klaeser.
The overall chip leader is EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final Champion Nicolas Chouity with 119,600. He played Day 1a. The 141 survivors from both Day 1 flights will return to the felt at 2:00 pm local time tomorrow. Be sure to join us then as the 2010 Full Tilt Poker Merit Cyprus Classic gets closer to the final table.
Joe Cassidy has arrived with just a few minutes left to go in the level. We found him seated and involved in a pot with Ori Miller on the flop of . Both players checked to see the fall on the turn. Cassidy fired 2,700 and Miller made the call.
The river completed the board with the and Cassidy fired 7,600. Miller raised to 20,000 and after some time in the tank, Cassidy made the call.
Miller turned over the for a backdoor flush and Cassidy mucked his hand, dropping to 16,000 on one of the first hands he played. Miller improved to about 50,000.
A player in early position raised to 675 and action folded to John Dolan in the small blind. He re-raised to 1,775 and was called by the early-position raiser.
The flop came down and Dolan bet 2,000. His opponent called and the turn brought the . Dolan dropped 4,025 into the pot and his opponent called again, leading to the on the river. Dolan bet 6,100 and his opponent gave it up, sending the pot Dolan's way.
Carter Phillips raised to 800 and Rob Peltekci called. After the flop came , Phillips check-called a bet from Peltekci. The turn went check, check after the fell and then the river completed the board with the . Phillips fired 3,000 and Peltekci called with the . Phillips mucked and dropped down to 9,000 in chips.
Peltekci is up to about 60,000 and it has been in no way a quiet climb up the leaderboard. Since entering the tournament, which was a late entrance, Peltekci has been loud and exuberant, splashing chips and showing cards. According to some players at his table, Peltecki seems like he has been drinking, but that can only heighten the level of fun we'll be seeing at his table.
We arrived at the table and saw Sorel Mizzi call 3,400 from his opponent on a board.
The river was the and Mizzi checked to his opponent who fired again, this time for 7,675. Mizzi thought for a few moments before he called, but mucked when his opponent turned up for a turned straight.
Despite the bump, Mizzi is still sitting pretty with about 89,000.
After a player under the gun raised to 800, Rob Peltecki reraised to 2,600 with a splash of chips. His opponent called and the flop came down . The player checked and Peltecki fired 4,400. His opponent folded and Peltecki won the pot to move up to 50,000 in chips. He showed the after the hand.
A player in early-middle position raised to 650 before Antonio Esfandiari reraised to 1,750. The original raiser made the call. The flop came down and action checked to Esfandiari. He fired 2,125 and won the pot.
Although it wasn't much, Esfandiari has been on a pretty steep slide since getting up to about 60,000 at one point. He's now back to 28,000 with this pot and things may just be on the up and up.
. Both players checked to see the 
fall on the turn. Cassidy fired 2,700 and Miller made the call.
and Cassidy fired 7,600. Miller raised to 20,000 and after some time in the tank, Cassidy made the call.
for a backdoor flush and Cassidy mucked his hand, dropping to 16,000 on one of the first hands he played. Miller improved to about 50,000.
and Dolan bet 2,000. His opponent called and the turn brought the 
. Dolan dropped 4,025 into the pot and his opponent called again, leading to the 
fell and then the river completed the board with the 
. Phillips fired 3,000 and Peltekci called with the 
and Mizzi checked to his opponent who fired again, this time for 7,675. Mizzi thought for a few moments before he called, but mucked when his opponent turned up 
. The player checked and Peltecki fired 4,400. His opponent folded and Peltecki won the pot to move up to 50,000 in chips. He showed the 
after the hand.
