There is a slightly different atmosphere in the poker room as we approach the end of day 1 at the Main Event in the Galway UKIPT.
There are a few pints of Guinness and bottles of beer on the side tables now as the tension of the day begins to drain away from the early battles, and the players reflect on various victories and defeats they have encountered at the tables.
Some are on lock down, unwilling to risk one more chip than necessary. Some are exploiting this to chip up against gun shy opponents. A few though are desperate to double up or go home. We are seeing all-in shoves with pocket fives called by ace-nine. King-six busting a short stacks shove with jack-ten
Marek Hanzlik, a PokerStars qualifier from the Czech Republic went all-in from early position and was called by a big stack in the big blind. Hanzlick was out of his seat, expecting to go home. He had his bag on his shoulder and was leaving a half-eaten chicken wrap on the table beside his as he table his
His opponent though had .
A board of meant Hanzlik had doubled up and he sat down to finish his meal.
We’re sure it tasted like the finest wrap he’d ever had
Earlier today Sergio Aido became the €2,200 Full Tilt High Roller Champion winning an impressive €24,450 and a brand new trophy for his mantelpiece. He'll be playing the Main Event tomorrow, but before that he talked to Laura Cornelius about his High Roller win.
Full Tilt ambassador Martins Adenyia is a quiet but formidable presence at the table. We watched as he quietly picked up a few small pots to steadily grow his stack.
Irish legend Mick McCloskey, sporting his badge strewn hat, and Keith “The Camel” Hawkins however are keeping the table entertained with a stream of bante,r ranging from the countries England have yet to invade, to asking for a penalty for Adenyia for resting his phone on the table.
“How can you do that job?” McCloskey asked a PokerNews reporter. “It’s like watching paint dry. Must be an ex-painter eh?”
Meanwhile a hand broke out at their table. Polish player Jaroslaw Mras raised to 2,000 and was called on the button by Vasileios Korkas from Greece, a PokerStars qualifier. The blinds folded and we went to the flop two handed.
came the flop. Mras checked and Korkas bet 2,700.
The young Polish player check-raised him all-in for a total of 14,000. Having ascertained the count, Korkas called and showed . It wasn’t a bluff shove though as Mras had
The last two cards were and Mras doubled up.
As he stacked his chips Hawkins began to grill him about how he had travelled to Galway and came to the conclusion, “Must be rich eh?”
Paul Allen raised preflop to 2,600 from late position and Martins Adeniya called in the big blind. The flop was , Adeniya checked and Allen bet 3,100. The Full Tilt Ambassador now moved all in for just over 20,000 and Allen went into the tank for several minutes before opting to fold what he said was ...
Max Silver opened to 2,200 preflop and received one caller in Adrian Tracey. The flop came and Silver bet 2,200 which Tracey called. On the turn, Silver elected to cautiously check and Tracey quickly bet 3,000. Silver made the call and then checked the blank-looking river. Tracey bet 6,000 which induced a frown from his opponent. Silver studied the board for a minute before reluctantly dropping in the chips for a call, Tracey quickly turned over for the nuts and Silver mucked.
.
meant Hanzlik had doubled up and he sat down to finish his meal.
came the flop. Mras checked and Korkas bet 2,700.
. It wasn’t a bluff shove though as Mras had 
and Mras doubled up.
, Adeniya checked and Allen bet 3,100. The Full Tilt Ambassador now moved all in for just over 20,000 and Allen went into the tank for several minutes before opting to fold what he said was 
for the nuts and Silver mucked.