A total of 113 players are still in the running of the 206 entries that were made across the two starting days. That number will increase just slightly as there are at least three last-chance satellite winners to enter, and registration is still open till play starts at 2 p.m. local time.
Fedor "CrownUpGuy" Holz is the alpha dog leading the canine right now, he amassed over 180,000 in chips on Day 1a. Right on his heels is Zoltan Szabo from Hungary with 177,800.
Austrian's all-time money leader Josef Klinger is in third with 166,300 in chips. Klinger hasn't made a live cash since 2010, but he's in an excellent position here in Vienna to change that.
The money stage of the tournament won't be reached today most likely, that is saved for tomorrows Day 3. Today will see five levels played, each 90 minutes long.
Level
Small Blind
Big Blind
Ante
9
400
800
100
10
500
1,000
100
11
600
1,200
200
12
800
1,600
200
13
1,000
2,000
300
Play should be done around 11 p.m. tonight, just in time for the players to flock to the Player Party that starts at 11:30. PokerNews will be your one stop shop for all updates and photos you can ask for today. Sit tight, play starts in an hour!
Ana Marquez walked into the press room, not a good sign as she started the day with only 28 big blinds. She soon confirmed our suspicion: busto.
Marquez told us she had three bet for a second time, this time she did it against Stefan Jedlicka. Jedlicka four bet all in and Marquez called it off. Marquez had king-queen off suit, Jedlicka had ace-queen and that hand held up.
Josef Klinger is the all time money leader of Austria with $1,759,013 in cashes. Right on his heels is Thomas Muehloecker with $1,747,400. As Klinger didn't report a cash since 2010, and Muehloecker has been on a tear lately, one might have suspected the latter would surpass Klinger pretty soon.
Just now things turned around though. Josef Klinger is still in the tournament with a lot of chips, while Muehloecker has been eliminated.
Muehloecker opened with a raise to 1,800 from middle position and action folded to big stack Rumen Nanec who made it 5,600 to go. Muehloecker tanked for a bit before shoving all in for 24,000. Nanev snapped him of.
Muehloecker:
Nanev:
The board ran out and Muehloecker made his way to the exit.
Ivan Stefanovic opened to 2,700 from the cutoff and Benjamin Spiehs three bet to 7,900 from the small blind. Jens Lakemeier in the big blind had bigger plans though, and cold four bet to 13,000 after about 20 seconds of thinking.
Stefanovic wanted none of it, but Spiehs called instantly.
The flop came and both Spiehs and Lakemeier checked. The hit the turn and Spiehs bet 13,000. Lakemeier called. The completed the board and Spiehs shoved all in for 33,000. Lakemeier called instantly.
Spiehs:
Lakemeier:
Spiehs thought they chopped it with their straights, but he overlooked the flopped flush for Lakemeier. Spiehs shook hands with Lakemeier not much later, and headed for the exit.
Fedor Holz slouched at the table, staring at his phone while not involved in a hand. He had two massive black 5,000 stacks in front of him, and then some towers of red 1,000 chips as well.
We headed over to his seat and asked him if he had, by any chance, played a big pot to gain so many chips. Holz told us that he had gotten involved in a big pot with Piotr Franczak.
Franczak had opened, Holz had three bet to 7,400, and Franczak had four bet to 15,000. Holz told us he had called.
The flop came rainbow and Franczak had bet 15,000. Holz called, and called the 25,000 bet that followed on the turn as well.
The river came the and Holz told us Franczak had checked. Holz then bet just 18,000 and Franczak had folded.
Big pot for Holz without a showdown, the rich get richer.
We missed the pre flop action, but there was more than enough going on post flop.
On Antonin Duda in the small blind and Jens Lakemeier in the big blind had checked. A third player had checked as well, and Josip Simunic bet out 6,900. Rumen Nanev on the button made the call, and now Duda shoved all in for 38,900. Lakemeier and the player in early position folded, Simunic with the decision.
Simunic thought for some time before moving in over the top. Nanev quickly released.
Josip Simunic:
Antonin Duda:
Duda was an almost 70% favorite to win the hand, and succeeded in that goal: on the turn, on the river.
Ognjen Sekularac was sitting a meter away from the table he started out today, eating dinner on his own.
We didn't want to bother him and asked Frederik Jensen what had happened. Jensen told us that Alexander Lakhov had opened the button for 2,500, and Sekularac had shoved for about 30,000 in chips from the small blind. Lakhov had called with and Sekularac had .
What started out as a coin flip, would soon be a situation not so even as Sekularac had just a single out left after the flop. The turn and river didn't bring the remaining seven Sekularac was looking for, and the Serbian player made his way to the exit.
The $3,500 buy-in, $5 million guaranteed World Poker Tour Seminole Hard Rock Championship will take place starting Thursday, April 16, 2015.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., announced that the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown, now in its fifth year, will return April 6-22, 2015. Held in the resort ballrooms, the 17-day series will feature the $3,500 buy-in, $5 million guaranteed WPT Seminole Hard Rock Championship with three starting flights beginning Thursday, April 16 at 12 p.m. local time.
Last year's Championship was the largest WPT playing field in history with 1,795 entries. Players may play any or all starting flights and choose their best stack. Reentry will be allowed for six levels, and the televised final table will be take place on Wednesday, April 22 in Hard Rock Live located in Seminole Paradise, with live coverage available on www.SHRPO.com.
The Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown will open with a $250 buy-in, $100,000 guaranteed no-limit hold'em tournament with six starting flights starting at 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m. on April 6 and April 7. The poker action will continue with a $570 buy-in, $1 million guaranteed deep-stack no-limit hold'em event with six starting flights April 9-12.
The WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship final table will be aired on Fox Sports. Broadcast schedule will be released at a later date. On-site registration for all Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown events is available 24/7 at the poker room. To participate, players must obtain a free "Wild Card" at the player's club or in the resort’s poker room located in Seminole Paradise. Visit www.SHRPO.com.
Enter to win a seat in to the $5 million WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship by visiting www.SHRPO.com/winaseat. Satellite events for the Championship will be held at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood starting February 22, 2015. To review the entire series and satellite schedule, please visit www.SHRPO.com; follow the event on Twitter at @SHRPO, hashtag #SHRPO.
We missed the pre flop and flop action, but heard the details from our German colleague after the hand had finished.
Jens Lakemeier opened to 4,500 and Josef Gulas three bet to 11,000. Lakemeier four bet to 23,000 when the action folded back to him. Gulas made the call.
On the flop of , Lakemeier bet 16,000 and Gulas called.
We got there on the turn when the appeared. Lakemeier bet 26,000 and Gulas called with about 45,000 behind.
With an already sizable pot, the completed the board and Lakemeier checked. Gulas thought for just a bit before announcing all in.
Lakemeier let out a big sigh, he clearly wasn't too happy with the situation.
Lakemeier eventually grabbed a single 100 chip, said "You have nines... Hopefully" and made the call.
Gulas had no nines, and instead showed up with for a flopped top pair, turned flush draw, and rivered two pair. Lakemeier smashed his on the table and angrily started counting out 44,900 to hand over.
and Muehloecker made his way to the exit.
and both Spiehs and Lakemeier checked. The 
hit the turn and Spiehs bet 13,000. Lakemeier called. The 
rainbow and Franczak had bet 15,000. Holz called, and called the 25,000 bet that followed on the 
and Holz told us Franczak had checked. Holz then bet just 18,000 and Franczak had folded.
Antonin Duda in the small blind and Jens Lakemeier in the big blind had checked. A third player had checked as well, and Josip Simunic bet out 6,900. Rumen Nanev on the button made the call, and now Duda shoved all in for 38,900. Lakemeier and the player in early position folded, Simunic with the decision.
on the turn, 
on the river.
and Sekularac had 
, Lakemeier bet 16,000 and Gulas called.
appeared. Lakemeier bet 26,000 and Gulas called with about 45,000 behind.
completed the board and Lakemeier checked. Gulas thought for just a bit before announcing all in.
for a flopped top pair, turned flush draw, and rivered two pair. Lakemeier smashed his 
