After already substantial preflop action between Saeid Khalghamooz, Bogdan Sirbu, and Elie Ghazal, there was 16,000 in the middle when the dealer dealt a flop.
Khalghamooz was first to act and bet 9,000, which Sirbu called. Ghazal, on the button, slid 55,000 forward, more than enough to cover both opponents. Khalghamooz tanked two minutes before folding his hand reluctantly.
Sirbu needed minutes as well to come to a decision and got the clock called on him. Eventually, he open-folded . Ghazal complimented him on the fold and showed , while Khalghamooz reached for the muck to show his .
Alexandru Papazian wins Romania's first WSOP bracelet. With thanks to Melissa Haereiti
It's nearly a year-and-a-half since Alexandru Papazian took down a €25,000 High Roller at the EPT 12 Grand Final for a cool €1,197,000 and the Romanian, who now sits atop his country's all-time money list shows no signs of resting on his laurels.
In fact, buoyed by a boisterous rail (which included a dog!) the Romanian took down this year's Crazy Eights WSOP bracelet event earning himself $888,888 as well as his first, and his country's first WSOP bracelet.
Today he is sat in Day 1a of the PokerStars Festival Bucharest Main Event, and we'll be sure to check in on him over the course of the day.
On a board of and with around 33,000 in the pot already, Dan Chisu faced a bet of 15,000 which meant he would have to go all in to call.
Eventually, Chisu slammed a stack of chips down indicating a call. His opponent turned over and Chisu won the pot with for a better pair, earning plaudits from his fellow Romanians at the table.
On a flop with just under 6,000 in the pot already, Elie Ghazal checked to an opponent who bet 6,000. Ghazal check-raised all in putting his opponent at risk and they quickly called.
Ghazal:
All-in player:
The turn was the and the river the seemingly safe . The player with queens fist-pumped and pushed his queens into the middle in preparation to receive his double-up.
"Straight," announced the dealer, pushing the corresponding cards up, and awarding the pot to Ghazal.
Iury Wolf opened with a raise to 800 in middle position. To his left, Bartel Kars three-bet to 2,300. In the small blind, Krasimir Yankov four-bet to 5,300, which got Wolf out of the way. Kars made the call in position to see an flop appear.
Yankov continued with 2,900 on the flop and Kars called, leaving himself with 11,000 behind. On the turn, Yankov bet more than Kars' remaining stack, and the Dutchman started talking.
"I don't have an ace," Kars said, "but I don't think you have an ace either." Kars gave it some more thought, then opted to fold. Yankov didn't show and raked in the pot.
We're only three levels into the Day 1A action but we've already seen our fair share of action and familiar faces. While the players are on their first 15-minute break of the day, allow me to bring you up to speed.
Valentin Bulgaru raised to 600 and got no less than four callers, including Ezequiel Lebed in the big blind. The flop came down and Bulgaru shoved for 5,700. All other players folded to Lebed, who called it off.
Valentin Bulgaru:
Ezequiel Lebed:
Lebed needed to pair his inferior kicker to improve and did so on the turn. The river sealed Bulgaru's fate and he was eliminated.
against the 
of Zavacky, and would need help to boost his stack up over the 100,000 mark.
giving Zavacky kings full and pushing Norel's stack back to around 60,000.
flop.
and with around 33,000 in the pot already, Dan Chisu faced a bet of 15,000 which meant he would have to go all in to call.
for a better pair, earning plaudits from his fellow Romanians at the table.
flop with just under 6,000 in the pot already, Elie Ghazal checked to an opponent who bet 6,000. Ghazal check-raised all in putting his opponent at risk and they quickly called.
. The player with queens fist-pumped and pushed his queens into the middle in preparation to receive his double-up.
flop appear.
turn, Yankov bet more than Kars' remaining stack, and the Dutchman started talking.
and Bulgaru shoved for 5,700. All other players folded to Lebed, who called it off.
