One of the biggest names in the field today is Traian Bostan. The Romanian has collected over $200,000 in lifetime winnings, including a big €100,000 score right here in Bucharest last year. Bostan in seated at table 15 and was involved in a hand with Merheb Sarkis from Canada.
The board read and the pot was up to around 9,500. Bostan was in the blinds and checked, and Sarkis checked behind after seconds. Bostan showed but was second best to Sarkis' .
It was a little over a year ago that we were last in the Romanian capital, for what would ultimately be the first and last Eureka Poker Tour stop in Bucharest. The €1,100 Main Event attracted 579 runners, creating a first place prize of €107,350 that was eventually won by a 30-year-old pro from Israel, Avishai Shitrit.
On a flop, Bartel Kars had 3,600 in front of him in the small blind, and Krasimir Yankov called in late position. The turn prompted a 7,500 bet from Kars and Yankov called after some thought.
The river was the and Kars checked. Yankov loudly tapped the table to check behind.
"You win," sighed Kars, who tabled for a pair of sixes. Yankov showed and won the hand.
Even at this early stage of proceedings, there are still a number of notables in the field. These include Ionel Anton who, with almost $2m in lifetime earnings, is third on the Romanian all-time money list.
Joining him in the field is fellow Romanian Carmen Zainescu. Zainescu's best result came in 2016 when she finished sixth in the Eureka Bucharest Main Event for just under €23,000.
Finally, there is Andreas Klatt. Earlier this year Klatt enjoyed the best two weeks any poker player could dream of. First he won the PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo National Championship for €151,000 and then followed that up with a second place finish in the Main Event for just over €400,000.
He wasn't finished there. In partnership with the WPT in Amsterdam and the MonteDam Swing, Klatt headed to Amsterdam where he just missed out on a final table spot in the WPT Main Event, finishing 10th for €13,000.
In a four-way pot with the board reading , action was folded to Lior Bargad Abudi on the button who bet 3,600. Sam Dorrestein, who just late registered this tournament, called from the blinds, and the other players folded. Both players checked the on the turn.
On the river, Dorrestein bet 3,800 and Abudi raised it to 10,000. The Dutchman took around a minute before making the call with . Abudi had and Dorrestein's bigger two pair delivered him a nice pot right off the bat.
On a turn of Sam Dorrestein checked to an opponent who bet 2,300. Dorrestein check-raised to 7,300 and his opponent called. Both players checked the on the river and Dorrestein showed for two-pair, which elicited a tap of the table in appreciation from his opponent.
A few hands later and with a full board of spread across the table, Dorrestein checked to a different opponent who moved all in for around 25,000 into a pot of 12,000. Dorrestein thought for a while but eventually folded flashing the for trips to his opponent.
His opponent then gestured to his cards. "Just one," asked Dorrestein, reaching for them. "No," came the reply, "Both!"
Dorrestein turned over for ace-high and his opponent's shove got through.
A player in middle position raised to 550. Cristian Serban called in the cutoff before Krasimir Yankov three-bet to 2,025 in the small blind. Both players called.
The flop was and it checked around. The turn was the and Yankov bet 3,125. The initial raiser folded and Serban called.
The river was the . Yankov bet 7,600. "Call," announced Serban. Yankov turned over . Serban was still counting out the chips to make the call, and he slid the chips into the middle before turning over for a set of threes.
In a three-bet pot with three players, action was checked to Florin Calinescu on the button. The Romanian bet 2,000 on an board and got Adrian Ioan Ionescu as the only called.
Ionescu led out 3,300 on the turn, Calinescu raised to 7,000, and Ionescu called. Both players checked the on the river.
Ionescu showed for the turned flush and Calinescu mucked his hand.
and the pot was up to around 9,500. Bostan was in the blinds and checked, and Sarkis checked behind after seconds. Bostan showed 
but was second best to Sarkis' 
.
flop, Bartel Kars had 3,600 in front of him in the small blind, and Krasimir Yankov called in late position. The 
turn prompted a 7,500 bet from Kars and Yankov called after some thought.
for a pair of sixes. Yankov showed 
and won the hand.
, action was folded to Lior Bargad Abudi on the button who bet 3,600. Sam Dorrestein, who just late registered this tournament, called from the blinds, and the other players folded. Both players checked the 
river, Dorrestein bet 3,800 and Abudi raised it to 10,000. The Dutchman took around a minute before making the call with 
and Dorrestein's bigger two pair delivered him a nice pot right off the bat.
Sam Dorrestein checked to an opponent who bet 2,300. Dorrestein check-raised to 7,300 and his opponent called. Both players checked the 
on the river and Dorrestein showed 
for two-pair, which elicited a tap of the table in appreciation from his opponent.
for ace-high and his opponent's shove got through.
and Yankov bet 3,125. The initial raiser folded and Serban called.
. Yankov bet 7,600. "Call," announced Serban. Yankov turned over 
board and got Adrian Ioan Ionescu as the only called.