2008 Partouche Poker Tour - Cannes

Stalling is typical of most multi-table tournaments, but what we're witnessing here in Cannes is stalling like we've never seen it before.

We're currently three players away from the money and players are using every last second to make their decisions -- even decisions as simple as checking the big blind.

One player, a short stack of course, sat for two full minutes in the big blind before knuckling the table, signaling to the dealer that he was ready to see the flop. Once the flop was spread, he waiting another minute before checking again. Action then checked around to a player on the button who led out with a bet and the decision returned to our feature staller who -- you guessed it -- sat for another two minutes before folding his hand. The best part was, he put on one helluva show, scratching his head... checking and re-checking his cards... stacking and re-stacking his chips... the works.

We haven't heard any complaints from the players yet, but if this continues, you can expect a few of the more experienced players to speak up.

We approach the table with the turn just dealt giving us a board. Guillaume De La Gorce is in the small blind and leads out for a 15,000 bet that Michael Mizrachi calls.

The river brings another bet from the small blind, this time for a total of 35,000. Mizrachi sits there, supping a beer, not looking very comfortable with his situation. He throws the call in anyway and his fears are confirmed when De La Gorce reveals . Mizrachi flashes an ace as he folds.

De La Gorce on 370,000 now while Mizrachi sits on 235,000.

We've been informed by the tournament staff that play will cease for the evening either when the field hits 48 players, or at the end of level nine.

According to the tournament clock, there are 53 players remaining and we're getting closer and closer to the money bubble. If today's rate of play is any indicator, we're more than likely hit 48 players long before level nine.

Michael Mizrachi called a preflop bet from the big blind after another player had called, too.

He then bet out on the flop and managed to get both opponents to fold. One of them asked him if he was "Full?"

"Yes I am," he said. "Full of bull-s#it!"

This caused everyone to erupt in laughter.

Rafe Furst, Vikash Dhorasoo and Juha Helppi have all been eliminated from the Main Event.

Chip leader to start the day, Casper Hansen has just been eliminated from the PPT Cannes Main Event.

Unfortunately we missed the pre-flop betting action, though we know Casper moved in and his opponent made the call:

Hansen:
Opponent:

Upon seeing what he was up against, Casper said, "Aqui," (Spanish for 'here') and proceeded to push his chips into the middle.

The board round out giving Hansen's opponent the nut flush, spelling the end for the young pro from Denmark.

"The nuts . . . imagine that," Hansen said as he stood up to shake his opponent's hand before exiting the tournament area.

Gus Hansen just added another 90,000 to his stack with the elimination of Fabrice Messina.

We walked up on the hand as Gus was considering to call a ~50,000 all-in re-raise from Messina; there was approximately 100,000 already in the pot.

"Pretty sure I'm calling," said Gus. "I just want to think for a second."

Apparently annoyed that he was priced in to call, Gus mumbled something or other in another language and slung the chips required to make the call across the betting line.

Gus was pleased to find out that he was slightly ahead in the hand, with pocket sevens against Messina's .

The flop came and Gus commented, "That's an exciting flop."

The then fell on the turn and drew collective "Ooh's" and "Aww's" from the peanut gallery.

The river brought an inconsequential , sealing Gus' win and the crowd gave Messina a round of applause as he exited the tournament area.

One half hour inside level 15, we're down to 63 players. The average chip stack is currently 152,380.

Fabrice Nkoa is still clinging tight to the chip lead, with just over 700,000 in chips.

Gerard Aunet has just been eliminated in unfortunate circumstances by Gus Hansen. The pot had been raised preflop before an flop was delivered.

Hansen was first to act and led out for a bet that was raised by Aunet. Gus responded by moving all in and was met with a call. The call was a good one as Hansen had to his opponent's .

The turn of changed the balance completely and the river confirmed Aunet's departure.

Hansen on 320,000 right now.