Main Event Day 1a | 2017 PokerStars Festival Bucharest

08-02-2017 13:16 UTC

Chip Counts

Yori Epskamp

Level 4 : 150/300, 50 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Eduard Norel	93,500 -1,500	-1,500
Hristo Bogdanov	70,000
Sidiki Matey	70,000
Cristian Tardea	65,600
Arash Karimkhanzand	64,000
Cristi Florian Grecu	63,000
Tamas Kabatnic	54,000

Cristian Serban	53,250 -2,750	-2,750

Level: 5

Blinds: 200/400

Ante: 50

08-02-2017 13:33 UTC

Dan Chisu Makes the Call to Double Up

Will Shillibier

Level 5 : 200/400, 50 ante

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.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dan Chisu	60,000

Tags: Dan Chisu

08-02-2017 13:37 UTC

Romanian All-time Money List Leader Alexandru Papazian Joins the Field

Will Shillibier

Level 5 : 200/400, 50 ante

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.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alexandru Papazian	30,000 30,000	30,000

Tags: Alexandru Papazian

08-02-2017 13:40 UTC

Big Hands Collide

Yori Epskamp

Level 5 : 200/400, 50 ante

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 .

Player	Chips	Progress
Elie Ghazal	95,000 28,000	28,000
Bogdan Sirbu	23,000 23,000	23,000
Saeid Khalghamooz	22,000 22,000	22,000

Tags: Bogdan Sirbu Elie Ghazal Saeid Khalghamooz

08-02-2017 13:49 UTC

Zavacky Doubles Through Norel

Will Shillibier

Level 5 : 200/400, 50 ante

The cards were on their backs between Matej Zavacky and Eduard Norel, the latter of which had been hovering around the 90,000 chip mark.

However, Norel held against the of Zavacky, and would need help to boost his stack up over the 100,000 mark.

Sadly for him, the board ran out giving Zavacky kings full and pushing Norel's stack back to around 60,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Matej Zavacky	61,000
Eduard Norel	59,000 -34,500	-34,500

Tags: Eduard Norel Matej Zavacky

08-02-2017 14:01 UTC

Glazer Gets There

Yori Epskamp

Level 5 : 200/400, 50 ante

On a flop, Sidiki Matey, Ofer Glazer, and Iulian Ruxandescu all got their stacks in the middle. Glazer was all in for 22,300, Ruxandescu for 24,750, and Matey had both covered by a wide margin.

Sikidi Matey:
Ofer Glazer:
Iulian Ruxandescu:

Ruxandescu held a substantial lead with his set of fours and needed to dodge the kings and hearts to win. The on the turn was safe for Ruxandescu. However, the on the river gave Glazer a flush, and the Israeli loudly celebrated the fortunate turn of events.

Ruxandescu was left on fumes but picked up aces in the next hand to double up his short stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ofer Glazer	75,000 33,000	33,000
Sidiki Matey	35,000 -35,000	-35,000
Iulian Ruxandescu	10,000 10,000	10,000

Tags: Iulian Ruxandescu

Level: 6

Blinds: 250/500

Ante: 75

08-02-2017 14:11 UTC

Papazian Getting Busy

Will Shillibier

Level 6 : 250/500, 75 ante

Alexandru Papazian - EPT 12 Grand Final €25,750 High Roller Winner 2016

Alexandru Papazian was stacking up his chips, and it was clear to us that he had acquired some from some other players.

"Have you eliminated anyone?" we asked him, eager to hear how he had garnered so many chips.

"A couple actually!" he replied with a smile.

He explained how one player opened to 1,000 from under the gun. The player in the next position called and Papazian also called.

The flop came with two hearts. The initial raiser bet 2,000 and the second player called. Papazian raised to 7,000. The initial raiser folded and the second player moved all in for between 25,000-30,000. Papazian called.

All-in player:
Papazian:

There was no help for the all-in player on either the turn or the river and Papazian chipped up even further and now sits on a stack of around 85,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alexandru Papazian	85,000 55,000	55,000

Tags: Alexandru Papazian

08-02-2017 14:17 UTC

Kolb More Than Doubles Up

Yori Epskamp

Level 6 : 250/500, 75 ante

Over at Table 16, chips are being splashed around and once again, a big pot was created before the community cards were even dealt. Elie Ghazal had 2,200 in front of him in the small blind, Lorenz Kolb made it 7,500 from early position, Saeid Khalghamooz cold-called the 7,500, and Ghazal called as well.

The flop was and Kolb moved in for his last 14,000. Khalghamooz folded and Ghazal called.