Main Event Day 1c | 2018 Winamax Poker Open Dublin

09-21-2018 13:02 UTC

Luck of the Irish

Will Shillibier

Level 4 : 175/350, 350 ante

As to be expected, there are a lot of Irish players in the field here in Dublin. However, they are dwarfed by the enormity of the field, filled as it is with French amateurs and online players.

Two players that stand out are Paul Leckey and Andy Black (pictured left). The pair sit atop their respective country's all-time money list and have made a good start to their tournament.

Photos courtesy of Caroline Darcourt

Player	Chips	Progress
Paul Leckey	90,000 40,000	40,000
Andy Black	73,000 23,000	23,000

Tags: Andy Black Paul Leckey

09-21-2018 13:08 UTC

Checking in on the Winamax Team Pros

Will Shillibier

Level 4 : 175/350, 350 ante

Right now there is just one Winamax Team Pro in the field, and that is Bruno Lopes.

There have been several Team Pros who have already made Day 2. Yesterday Davidi Kitai, Pierre Calamusa, Guillaume Diaz and Leo Margets advanced, while Joao Vieira and Sylvain Loosli did it at the first time of asking.

That leaves just Lopes, as well as Beer Pong Open winner Gaelle Baumann, Ivan Deyra, Adrien Delmas, Romain Lewis and Mustapha Kanit left to try and get through to Day 2.

Photos courtesy of Caroline Darcourt

Player	Chips	Progress
Bruno Lopes	50,000 50,000	50,000

Tags: Adrien Delmas Bruno Lopes Davidi Kitai Gaelle Baumann Guillaume Diaz Ivan Deyra Joao Vieira Leo Margets Mustapha Kanit Pierre Calamusa Romain Lewis Sylvain Loosli

09-21-2018 13:08 UTC

Break

Will Shillibier

Level 4 : 175/350, 350 ante

Players are going on their first break of the day.

Level: 5

Blinds: 200/400

Ante: 400

09-21-2018 13:41 UTC

Winamax Team Pro Kanit Relishes Being Part of "Special Group"

Will Shillibier

Level 5 : 200/400, 400 ante

After arriving in the Irish capital, Mustapha Kanit is biding his time and keeping his powder dry before jumping into the fray, and we caught up with him to ask him how it's been playing in Winamax events recently.

"I've played in the SISMIX [in Marrakech], I've played in Paris. I like it; it's always fun and I always bring a few friends."

Kanit is now in Dublin to play the Winamax Poker Open, and it is his first visit to the WPO. However, it's not his first visit to Dublin to play poker. In February 2016 he won a €25,000 High Roller here for €501,640 and says he has good memories.

"It was the biggest tournament ever held in Dublin," said Kanit. "But Winamax is the first time. It looks nice and there are so many people here."

Kanit has been a Winamax pro for some time now and he says that he really likes being part of the team.

"It's been great. They've loved me since the beginning and I love them. It's been a good year. I'm up live; I don't play as much as I used to, but I still play a fair amount.

"Online too I can't really complain. It's been a good year."

Does the Italian think that being a sponsored pro has changed his approach to poker recently?

"I wouldn't say that it has changed my approach because that's something I've developed over twelve years of playing. So it's tough to change that in one year.

"But at the same time, it adds something for sure. Just being part of such a special group, having the option to share things with players like Adrian [Mateos] is for sure a big positive to have. I would say that it's definitely given me something, that's for sure."

Tags: Mustapha Kanit

09-21-2018 13:45 UTC

Defending Champion Richard Back in the Field

Will Shillibier

Level 5 : 200/400, 400 ante

Otto Richard has had a difficult time of it over the first two starting flights, but he's back today for more poker action as he looks to retain the title he won in 2017.

Photos courtesy of Caroline Darcourt

Player	Chips	Progress
Otto Richard	50,000 50,000	50,000

Tags: Otto Richard

Level: 6

Blinds: 250/500

Ante: 500

09-21-2018 14:15 UTC

Updated Chip Counts

Will Shillibier

Level 6 : 250/500, 500 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Paul Leckey	115,000 25,000	25,000
Christophe Stammet	110,000
Mateusz Wozniak	85,000 35,000	35,000
Zac Sloper	70,000
Andy Black	65,000 -8,000	-8,000
Bruno Lopes	58,000 8,000	8,000
Sander van Wesemael	53,000 3,000	3,000
[Removed:30]	50,000
Marvin Dupre	40,000 -13,000	-13,000
Otto Richard	39,000 -11,000	-11,000

09-21-2018 14:16 UTC

Check-Raise Doesn't Scare Kooij

Will Shillibier

Level 6 : 250/500, 500 ante

On a board an opponent had checked to Teunis Kooij who bet 2,600. His opponent check-raised to 6,100 and Kooij called.

The river was the and again it checked to the Dutchman who bet 8,700. His opponent tanked, and even separated chips out to possibly call, but eventually folded allowing Kooij to takde down the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Teunis Kooij	48,000 -2,000	-2,000

Tags: Teunis Kooij

Level: 7

Blinds: 300/600

Ante: 600