156 players showed up for Day 1c, bumping the total number of players to 734. Late registration will be open for another level, although not many more players are expected to join at this time.
With 734 players, the €500,000 guaranteed prize pool has been smashed and last year's number of 579 has been eclipsed by a wide margin.
This year, Chris Moneymaker is the big name here at the PokerStars Festival Bucharest. But it was another Team PokerStars Pro who stole the limelight at this very same stop last summer.
Who you ask?
Here's a hint. He's Canadian. He's near/at the top of the all-time money list. And his name rhymes with MANUEL MAGLANU (his name is also in the title of this piece, but we'll ignore that for now).
Drumroll please...
Read more on the PokerStars blog.
Level: 5
Blinds: 200/400
Ante: 50
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
100,000 | |
|
70,000 | |
|
65,000 | |
|
42,000 | 12,000 |
|
28,000 | -2,000 |
|
15,000 | 15,000 |
The 578 unique entrants from Day 1a and Day 1b of PokerStars Festival Bucharest Main Event represented 42 different countries in total. Unsurprisingly, Romanians made up the bulk of the entrants with 289 players. Israel was represented by 117 hopefuls, while Bulgaria provided 22 players.
Players from all around the world participated in the PokerStars Festival, including players from Vietnam, Iran, Syria, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The field is now up to 154 players.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
30,000 | |
|
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
Level: 4
Blinds: 150/300
Ante: 50
With the pot a little under 15,000 and the board completed with 
, Andrei Stoenescu moved all in from the blinds. The shove was enough to cover his opponent Mor Hilel, who played around 20,000 behind.
Hilel took a breath, then slid in a call.
Andrei Stoenescu: 
Mor Hilel: 
Hilel nearly ripped his cards in frustration before making his way to the exit.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
55,000 | |
|
|
Busted |
Level: 3
Blinds: 100/200
Ante: 25
Valentin Bulgaru's second attempt started off well, as the Bulgarian doubled up with the nut flush. Holding 
, Bulgaru check-raised a 3,600 bet to 10,500 on a 
board, and his opponent called.
On the 
river, Bulgaru shoved 17,000 and got a call from 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
60,000 | 60,000 |
