Jay Patel opened to 2,500 under the gun and was called by Lorenzo Arduini in the cut off and Romain Le Dantec in the big blind.
Action was checked to Arduini on the 7♣9♣3♠ flop, who slid out a bet of 2,800. Both of his opponents called.
The 3♥ rolled off on the turn, and was checked through by all players.
On the A♠ river, Le Dantec led out with a bet of 16,000, Patel folded and Arduini called. Le Dantec showed 8♣7♠ for a pair of sevens, while Arduini had A♥10♠ for the rivered pair of aces.
Cards were on their bags and stacks were in the middle, with Tal Sardal all-in on the river for 39,400 on 4♠9♣2♣10♠2♠ and at risk versus Heni Mokni.
Mokni had K♣4♣ for a pair of fours and missed flopped flush draw, while Sardal had K♠9♠ for a flopped top pair nines which improved to a king-high flush by the river.
Anders Helland opened to 900 from early position and was faced with a three-bet to 3,000 by Tomasz Kardas in the next seat. Action moved to Natale Polizzotto, who cold called. Action back to Helland, who also called.
The A♣7♥6♥ flop was checked through by all players.
On the 8♣ turn, Helland fired out a bet of 3,700 and Kardas called. Polizzotto thought the spot through for some time, before reaching for chips and producing a check-raise to 11,900.
Helland called, but Kardas then announced he was all-in for around 53,800. Polizzotto thought for around a minute before tossing his hand into the muck, but Helland, who slightly covered Kardas, went deep into the tank. The clock was ultimately called and with five seconds left, Helland folded, showing the 6♦.
Paul Runcan opened to 800 from middle position and was faced with a three-bet to 2,500 from Levan Mamaladze on the button. Action folded back to Runcan, who called.
On the 5♦6♥5♠ flop, Runcan check-called a bet of 2,800 from Mamaladze.
The 5♣ rolled off on the turn, and Runcan again check-called a bet of 6,500 from his opponent.
The river brought the K♦, and Runcan checked once more. Mamaladze fired out a bet of 15,000, sending Runcan deep into thought. Runcan eventually flicked in calling chips, and was shown the bad news when Mamaladze turned over J♠J♣ for a full house, leading Runcan to muck his hand.
Anders Helland opened to 1,100 and received calls from the cutoff, Natale Polizzotto on the button, and the player in the big blind.
The flop came Q♣8♣3♠, and action was checked to Helland. He fired out a bet of 2,200 and only Polizzotto called.
The 7♣ rolled off on the turn, and Helland continued with a bet of 3,100. Polizotto pondered the spot and reached for chips to produce a raise to 10,300. Helland thought for a moment and called.
The 3♥ river completed the board, and Helland retained control of the action, sliding out a bet of 6,200. Polizzotto thought the position through for quite some time before folding, seemingly reluctantly.
Welcome to PokerNews coverage of the €1,100 World Poker Tour Prime Sanremo Championship Event here at the beautiful Casino Sanremo, Italy.
This is the second time WPT Prime has been held in Sanremo. The inaugural edition of the event last year attracted 838 entrants, generating a prize pool of €804,480. Italian pro Simone Andrian triumphed on home soil, bagging the trophy and first-place prize of €147,020, and he is expected to be in attendance to defend his title.
Andrian appears to enjoy WPT events, having also posted a 29th place finish in the $40 million guaranteed WPT World Championships in December 2023 in Las Vegas for $159,200.
Simone Andrian
The Championship Event comprises four action-packed days of poker. Day 1a, the first of four starting flights, begins today, Thursday June 6, at noon local time, featuring 40-minute levels. Players begin with a 50,000 starting stack at blinds of 100/200, with a 200 big blind ante.
Play will continue until 12.5% of the field remains, with all players through to Day 2 guaranteed to be in the money. Late registration closes at the start of Level 10, with a 30-second shot clock in play from Level 15. Each player will receive four time extensions at the start of Level 15, with a further four provided to players who progress to Day 2.
Days 1b and 1c will take place on June 7 and June 8 respectively at noon local time, and follow the same structure as Day 1a. Day 1d is a turbo flight scheduled for June 8 at 8:00 p.m. local time, featuring 20-minute levels, but otherwise following the same structure as previous flights.
Days 2 and 3 are due to take place on June 9 and June 10 respectively at 1:00 p.m. local time, and will feature 60-minute levels.
Be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews for your coverage of all the action, in what is guaranteed to be a day full of thrills and spills.
